File:Dust in Turkmenistan and Afghanistan (MODIS).jpg

English: On May 9, 2023, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired a true-color image of a spring dust storm streaming across Afghanistan and Turkmenistan.

The dust storm begins in arid Afghanistan west of the snow-capped Hindu Kush mountains, blows westward and then curls slightly northwestward over the sand-filled Mary region of Turkmenistan, where additional dust likely is swept into the storm. The path of the dust roughly parallels the Amu Darya River, which shows green along its banks.

This region of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan is extremely arid and rich in fine sand, especially in the dune fields south of the Amu Darya River. In springtime, a short growing season spurs a burst of green, thanks to the short season when rain appears and encourages growth of desert sedges, grasses, shrubs, and groves of wild pistachio trees. Much of the 200 to 240 millimeters (8 to 9 inches) of rain the area receives each year falls between February and May; a prolonged period of dry weather typically sets in by June.

Dust storms are a frequent natural hazard in both countries and can occur at any time of the year. They are especially frequent in spring, when cold air masses moving from the north often clash with intrusions of warm tropical air from the south, creating unsettled weather patterns which can produce strong, gusty winds. These winds easily lift the loose, widespread sand into the air to create sudden dust storms.