Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang, China

The true-color corrected reflectance image above shows the Taklamakan Desert in the Xinjiang region of China on June 10, 2025. The image was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua platform. Press the "Play" button in the lower left corner to see the movement of brown dust between June 10 and 13.

The desert is slightly smaller than Germany, covering an area approximately 320,000 km² (123,550 sq mi). It is the world's second largest shifting sand desert, where 85% of the area is comprised of shifting sand dunes. It is flanked by high mountain ranges including the Tien Shan to the north, the Kunlun mountains to the south, and the Pamirs to the west.

To verify the presence of the dust, the map above shows the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) Dust Score (L2, Day) layer overlaid on the true-color corrected reflectance image. Press the "Play" button in the lower left corner to see the changes in dust between June 10 and 13.

Dust score is determined from multiple tests that compare radiances in select AIRS spectral channels. Radiances measured in channels that are sensitive to dust are compared to radiances measured in channels that are not sensitive to dust. The differences between several pairs of channels are represented as a dust score. Higher scores indicate more certainty that dust is present. Dust is probable when the score is above 380.

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Referenced Datasets

Images are initially produced with near real-time (NRT) data. Science quality images replace NRT when available.

Aqua/AIRS L2 Near Real-Time (NRT) Support Retrieval (AIRS-only) V7.0 (AIRS2SUP_NRT) doi:10.5067/MOQOVNHNERGG

Aqua/AIRS L2 Support Retrieval (AIRS-only) V7.0 (AIRS2SUP) doi:10.5067/APJ6EEN0PD0Z