File:Dust Against the Hindu Kush (MODIS).jpg

English: Strong winds blew dust across northern Afghanistan in early November 2023. When the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite acquired this true-color image, the dust spread also spread across the neighboring countries of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and concentrate at the feet of the Hindu Kush mountains. In many areas the beige dust is so thick that it hides the land below from view.

Sandy desert is widespread in this region, covering most of Turkmenistan, parts of southern Uzbekistan, and the area along the northern Afghanistan border. At times, dust tints the snow atop the Hindu Kush light beige and, if enough dust is present, it can accelerate snow melt.

In contrast to the beige dust, a gray haze can be seen in the southeast (lower right) covering the skies and pushing into the valleys. While some dust could be present, the haze primarily comes from aerosols suspended in the air. Aerosol pollution is common in this region, especially in cool weather when temperature inversions often trap cool air near the ground. Primary sources are agricultural burning, burning coal, and burning fossil fuel for industry and automobiles.