[:ja]NASAの人工衛星DSCOVRが撮影した、アフリカ、サハラ砂漠の砂が大西洋上に舞っている様子です。
このアフリカ西岸の黄砂は5千kmもの距離を旅し、なんと大西洋の対岸のアマゾンの熱帯雨林にまで到達するのです（5千kmというと東京－インド・コルカタの距離）。NASAの研究では、この黄砂には植物の成長に不可欠なリンが豊富に含まれており、洪水や自然風化などで傷んだアマゾン地域の土壌に養分を供給している、つまり、生物の宝庫であるアマゾンの熱帯雨林の成長が少なからずアフリカ大陸の砂によって育まれている可能性もあると指摘します。
ISSの宇宙飛行士が撮影した画像はこちらです。
また、NASAは動画も公開しています。
参考文献： NASA Earth’s Tweet
地球俯瞰画像を見る： LiVEARTH
[Earthview Wonders] No.1061: Sand Storm from Africa
NASA’s DSCOVR satellite captured Saharan dust cloud moving over the Atlantic Ocean.
Dust from west coast of Africa travels 5,000km over the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Amazon rainforests of South America (5,000km is the approximate distance from New York, U.S. to Dublin, Ireland). According to NASA, the Saharan dusts contain rock minerals such as phosphorous, an essential nutrient for plant proteins and growth, and is thought to provide nutrients for Amazon soils. Scientists point out the possibility of relationship between the growth of the vast Amazon rainforests and the Saharan sands.
This is the photo taken by astronaut aboard ISS.
NASA also released a movie of the Saharan dust cloud.
Reference: NASA Earth’s Tweet
See earthview photo gallery: LiVEARTH[:en][Earthview Wonders] No.1061: Sand Storm from Africa
NASA’s DSCOVR satellite captured Saharan dust cloud moving over the Atlantic Ocean.
Dust from west coast of Africa travels 5,000km over the Atlantic Ocean to reach the Amazon rainforests of South America (5,000km is the approximate distance from New York, U.S. to Dublin, Ireland). According to NASA, the Saharan dusts contain rock minerals such as phosphorous, an essential nutrient for plant proteins and growth, and is thought to provide nutrients for Amazon soils. Scientists point out the possibility of relationship between the growth of the vast Amazon rainforests and the Saharan sands.
This is the photo taken by astronaut aboard ISS.
NASA also released a movie of the Saharan dust cloud.
Reference: NASA Earth’s Tweet
See earthview photo gallery: LiVEARTH[:]