September 11, 2014 - Dust storm in eastern Kazakhstan

Dust storm in eastern Kazakhstan

In August, 2014 heavy dust storms plagued Kazakhstan. On August 10 a severe dust storm hit Aktau city, causing loss of electrical and water supply to about 200,000 people. According to the World Meteorological Association, Aktau, the country’s main seaport located on the Caspian Sea is located in the middle of the desert with no immediately available fresh water. The city relies on Mangistau atomic energy complex for electricity, heat and water, which is produced by desalination and distillation of salt water from the Caspian Sea. The dust storm caused a failure of the central power line at the facility, disrupting service to the city.

On August 26 the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image of a spiraling dust storm in eastern Kazakhstan. Whirling clouds surround an arc of tan dust north of Lake Balkhash. The dust likely arises for the Saryeski-Atyrau Desert, a sand desert which stretches for about 250 mi (500 km) south of Lake Balkhash and between the Ili River (west) and Karatal River (east).

The Ili-Balkhash basin is a unique ecosystem which covers roughly 154,000 square miles (400,000 sq. km). Lake Balkhash is Central Asia’s second largest lake, and has become shallower and more saline, with water levels declining since 1960.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 8/26/2014
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC