Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Earth Observatory Collection
Title:
Fires in Central Africa
Description:
Thousands of smoky fires (red dots) were burning across Democratic Republic of Congo (top right) and Angola (bottom left) on May 10, 2004. This image and the fire detections were captured by the Mod erate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqu a satellite during its afternoon overpass of central Africa.

The widespread nature of the fires, their location (generally located away from remaining natural vegetation, which appears deeper green), and the time of year suggest that these fires are being set intentionally for agricultural purposes. Though not necessarily immediately hazardous, such large-scale burning can have a strong impact on weather, climate, human health, and natural resources.

The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at add itional resolutions.

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MOD IS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center
Satellite - Sensor:
Aqua- MODIS
facet_what:
Aqua
facet_where:
Angola
facet_where:
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_when:
May 10, 2004
facet_when_year:
2004
UID:
SPD-ETOBS-12119
original url:

Fires in Central Africa