Robert sent in the link www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8428431/ … giant sand cloud from the Sahara is blowing across the Atlantic. It may reach as far as Louisiana and Texas. Robert comments – stratospheric winds blow east to west at this time of the year. Do they have something to do with the phenomena? See for example stratospheric winds in real time at https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/10hPa/orthographic ….
The home address https://earth.nullschool.net allows you to play around with the images of the earth and the winds blowing above the earth.
The sand cloud was captured by satellite imaging …
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… and is thought to have formed just this past week as strong updrafts pushed sand filled surface winds blowing across the Sahara higher into the atmosphere. This particular sand cloud is situated between 5000 and 20,000 feet above the ground. It is usually active in the summer months and Robert chose a link at 10,000 feet, right in the middle of the estimated height of the clouds in order to compare its position with stratospheric winds. It does look like the stratospheric wind plays a role in the movement of sand across the Atlantic.