Astronaut Soichi Noguchi captured from ISS dust of Sahara Desert crossing over the Atlantic Ocean from Western Sahara. Canary Islands are captured in this image as well.
It is considered more than half of the dust deposited in the ocean lifts off from the Sahara Desert region. 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 the Atlantic Ocean and distant Americas. Dust storms cause soil loss from the dry lands, reduced agricultural productivity, damage of young crop plants by abrasive effect, and reduced visibility affecting aircraft and road transportation. Surprisingly, dust can also have beneficial effects where it deposits: Central and South American rain forests get most of their mineral nutrients from the Sahara; iron-poor ocean regions get iron; and dust in Hawaii increases plantain growth.
The local scenery on the ground is as follows.
Reference: Soichi Noguchi’s Tweet
See earthview photo gallery: LiVEARTH