Watch: NASA images capture a phenomenon soaring over the Atlantic

Hold your breath! This massive dust plume floating over the ocean can be seen from space . by Jennifer Walter June 28, 2021 NASA via Tumblr

NASA/NOAA, Colin Seftor Last year, a massive cloud of dust made its way from the Sahara desert all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. NASA named it ‘ Godzilla.’

NASA via Tumblr Now, Godzilla’s back. Well, a new version of it.

NASA via Tumblr NASA just spotted another massive dust cloud beginning its journey from Africa to the Americas. It’s so big that it can be seen from space.

Here’s the 2020 dust cloud at its start, compared to the dust cloud of 2021.

NASA via Tumblr While dust clouds traveling from the Sahara aren’t a new phenomenon, last year’s Godzilla plume was the biggest on record across the last two decades.

Does that mean the dust clouds will only keep getting bigger? Shutterstock

Researchers aren’t sure. And climate change, which contributes to higher temps and altered wind patterns, makes answers less clear cut.

Shutterstock NASA actually predicted in April that rising ocean temperatures, along with changing wind speeds, would lead to less dust flying up from the Sahara.

Giphy But with higher temperatures globally, places like the Sahara will become even drier. This could potentially lead strong winds to sweep up even more loose dust.

The dust plays an essential role in several of the world’s ecosystems. Changes to the plumes will undoubtedly affect life in ways we don’t understand yet. Shutterstock

BBC via Giphy For example: Dust plumes carry phosphorous, an essential nutrient for marine life and the Amazon rainforest.

Shutterstock But they also feed toxic algae blooms , like the red tide off the coast of Florida.

Yentl en de Boer via Giphy And too much dust can worsen air quality, causing dangerous conditions for those on land with sensitive lungs.

Giphy Observations also suggest there’s a relationship between the size of the dust plumes and hurricane intensity .

Shutterstock Strong westward winds from the north African coast can spur the beginnings of hurricanes. But dry dust plumes can also suppress their intensity .

NASA via Tumblr Only time will tell how the dust will settle — and if this year’s plume will top Godzilla’s size.

NASA via Tumblr Read more stories about science here.

Watch: NASA images capture a phenomenon soaring over the Atlantic

Here’s the 2020 dust cloud at its start, compared to the dust cloud of 2021.

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