[Ichneumon]

Is that coloration sand that is spread/blown laterally or vertically? Looks almost like a vertical cloud.

Laterally. The apparent "verticality" is just an optical illusion.

[Ichneumon]

Amending my last post: What's even more striking is how much the sandstorm, and some of the geographic features, look like artificial brushstrokes, as if portions of this photo were painted on.

[Prodigal Son]

Thanks. That's what I thought too. But when I first looked at it, my mind just read 'vertical' and I couldn't see it any other way after that. Plus I slept through those required six semesters of 'Analyzing Satellite Imagery of Saharan Sand Storms' so I was probably heading into this conundrum with a disadvantage ;-)