Thick dust from the Sahara forming cloud vortex streets over the Atlantic

Thick dust from the Sahara blowing over the ocean off the western coast of Africa encounters the islands of Cape Verde, forming a wake of swirling “vortex streets” visible by satellite.

Dust from the Sahara blows past the Cape Verde islands on Feb. 9, 2012. Credit: EOSnap/Chelys SRRS (Satellite Rapid Response System



These patterns are cloud vortex streets, also known as von Karman vortices. They are roughly symmetrical patterns of swirls created by low-level winds rushing over the Cape Verde Islands.

Thick dust from the Sahara forming cloud vortex streets over the Atlantic

via universetoday  by Jason Major