Monitoring of Saharan dust over the Atlantic using Meteosat-VIS-data

The optical depth of Saharan dustclouds (a component of the radiation budget), which can be clearly seen in satellite images taken over the Atlantic, can be determined from the Meteosat VIS-data. ‘Favourable angles’ between sun, observed point and satellite are chosen so that the optical depth is determined with an inaccuracy of only about 20%.We present several clouds, their change over time, and some of their other interesting features. The results are discussed.