n April 2001, the “Perfect Dust Storm” struck when wind whipped dust from deserts in Mongolia and China over Eastern Asia and the Pacific Ocean. Sensors aboard NASA Earth observing satellites tracked the movement and density of the aerosols as the cloud traveled eastward for more than two weeks. The booklet, “Understanding Earth: The Journey of Dust,” explains the causes of the 2001 storm, the effects of dust storms on society and climate, and possible ways to minimize their frequency. With satellite imagery, “The Journey of Dust” shows how NASA satellites provide a unique vantage point to observe and study these large-scale events.
