A massive plume of dust swept across the Arabian Sea in early November 2025, carried by strong northwesterly winds that transported fine particles from the arid regions of Iran and southern Pakistan.
Dust storms are a frequent occurrence in this region, where vast dry basins and persistent winds create ideal conditions for the uplift and long-range transport of mineral-laden air masses.
In a Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite image captured on November 5, 2025, the dust can be seen as a pale haze spreading over the deep blue waters of the Arabian Sea. The expansive plume extends across parts of Pakistan, Iran, and Oman, with the Omani capital, Muscat, particularly affected by the haze.
Copernicus’ freely accessible data provides essential tools for accurately tracking dust movement in high resolution. Such monitoring plays a critical role in global air quality forecasting, environmental assessment, and public health preparedness.
