Technical note: Quantitative monitoring of a Saharan dust event with SEVIRI on Meteosat‐8

An algorithm has been developed to quantitatively retrieve dust properties (identification, optical thickness, particle radius, and dust density) from the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard Meteosat‐8, the first of the Meteosat Second Generation (MSG). Two SEVIRI thermal infrared (IR) window channels (10.8 µm and 12 µm) were used to monitor the dust event of 3 March 2004 over the Sahara in northern Africa. The identification and evolution of dust are well depicted by SEVIRI data with high spatial resolution (approximately 3 km) and high temporal resolution (15 minutes). This demonstrates the capability of a geostationary advanced imager to monitor dust events over land, their migration and the corresponding air quality.