6 July 2017

GOES-16 View of the SAL around Tropical Depression 4.

Posted by Dan Satterfield

The image above is from GOES-16 (Ctsy. CIRA) and you can easily see the dry dusty Saharan air to the North and east of Tropical Depression 4. This layer of dusty air is called the SAL for Saharan Air Layer, and it often inhibits tropical cyclones. It’s already impacting TD 4. The new GOES-16 continues to wow we meteorologists. Truly, a new era is underway.

Update 12 AM EDT 7 July)

CIRA posted a nice animated GIF of the image above- shared below: