pl23_spac0640.jpg
![A mass of very dry, dusty air, known as the Saharan Air Layer, blowing off thecoast of Africa into the eastern Atlantic Ocean spac0640.jpg A mass of very dry, dusty air, known as the Saharan Air Layer, blowing off thecoast of Africa into the eastern Atlantic Ocean](https://s3.amazonaws.com/s3-east-testmedia-noaa.woc.noaa.gov/dam/Photos/legacy/pl23_spac0640.jpg)
Description
A mass of very dry, dusty air, known as the Saharan Air Layer, blowing off thecoast of Africa into the eastern Atlantic Ocean. The SAL can have significantnegative impact on tropical cyclone intensity and formation. Its dry air canact to weaken a tropical cyclone by promoting downdrafts around the storm whileits strong winds increase vertical wind shear around the storm environment.
Credit
NOAA/NASA/NESDIS Environmental Visualization Laboratory; Suomi NPP Satellite's VIIRS instrument
Display Date
2014 June 23
Location
Africa
Collection
NOAA in Space