Envisat image of a sandstorm over the Mediterranean

A strong wind blows sand and dust across the Mediterranean Sea from the Libyan Desert to Sicily and the southern tip of the Italian Peninsula on 10 February 2007 in this Envisat image.
Sandstorms are usually the result of atmospheric convection currents, which form when warm, lighter air rises and cold, heavier air sinks. The cold air in this image is visible stretching from the top left side of the image down to the centre and swirling back towards the north just above Libya, while the warm air current is seen blowing sand from south to north.