Ziemia z kosmosu: algierijski suchy krajobraz
These images from the Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission depict the sandy and rocky terrain of the Sahara in central Algeria.
The images show an extraordinary landscape in the Tanezrouft Basin, one of the most barren parts of the Sahara. Known for extreme heat and a lack of water and vegetation, the region is often called the 'Land of Terror'.
These two images have been processed in false color by selecting specific spectral bands from the shortwave and near-infrared channels, which can be used to classify and monitor geological features. In very dry regions like this, with little or no vegetation, this band combination increases the contrast between different surface materials, aiding the differentiation of geological and hydrological patterns compared with natural-color imagery.
Here, the colors reflect the varied mineral composition of the surface, clearly visible due to the lack of vegetation. Shades of red and brown indicate exposed sandstone layers, steep canyon walls, and rocky plateaus. The concentric rings of sandstone layers form striking patterns, usually in the upper left corner.
Areas colored from cyan to white are salt flats, evaporite basins, dry riverbeds, and multi-layered sand dunes known as 'ergs'. A distinctive feature that stands out in the center of the image as a bright white bouquet of dunes is Erg Mehedjibat, consisting of a cluster of small star dunes that rise upward rather than outward.
In mid-February 2026 strong winds caused Saharan dust to rise over Algeria. The image on the right, taken on February 14, shows this massive dust cloud. The false color combination clearly reveals a distinct veil of dust, shown in cyan tones, stretching from the top left corner toward the center of the image. The rough, rocky landscape visible in the image on the left from February 9 is faded or almost completely obscured by the storm.
Saharan dust can be carried by strong winds over great distances, contributing to deteriorating air quality, posing a threat to human health. Satellites are valuable tools for observing large desert areas and can track and help forecast the movement of dust storms for early warning.
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