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Collection:
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NASA Earth Observatory Collection
Collection
NASA Earth Observatory Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Oil Fires in Iraq
Title
Oil Fires in Iraq
Title
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Description:
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Close-up of Baghdad On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, the Mod erate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Ter ra satellite captured this clear image of the Middle East and surrounding countries. The most striking feature of the image is the large blackish-brown cloud of smoke blanketing Baghdad in the center of the image (see close up of Baghdad). Several thermal anomalies have been detected by MODIS?some in Baghdad and others in southern Iraq?and are marked with red dots. It is not unusual for MODIS to detect thermal signatures at oil wells or refineries. Underground, great pressure keeps various flammable gases mixed in with the liquid oil. When the oil is brought to the surface where air pressure isn't as great, those gases bubble up out of the oil are typically burned off, giving off a thermal signature and sometimes smoke. Other processes of oil production and refinement produce detectable thermal signatures. The hot spots detected in a roughly diagonal line from the bottom right of the image may be from oil production and refinement. The plumes of smoke coming from the locations in southern Iraq, however, are larger than what MODIS typically sees.
Description
Close-up of Baghdad On Wednesday, April 2, 2003, the Mod erate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Ter ra satellite captured this clear image of the Middle East and surrounding countries. The most striking feature of the image is the large blackish-brown cloud of smoke blanketing Baghdad in the center of the image (see close up of Baghdad). Several thermal anomalies have been detected by MODIS?some in Baghdad and others in southern Iraq?and are marked with red dots. It is not unusual for MODIS to detect thermal signatures at oil wells or refineries. Underground, great pressure keeps various flammable gases mixed in with the liquid oil. When the oil is brought to the surface where air pressure isn't as great, those gases bubble up out of the oil are typically burned off, giving off a thermal signature and sometimes smoke. Other processes of oil production and refinement produce detectable thermal signatures. The hot spots detected in a roughly diagonal line from the bottom right of the image may be from oil production and refinement. The plumes of smoke coming from the locations in southern Iraq, however, are larger than what MODIS typically sees. Description
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Satellite - Sensor:
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Terra- MODIS
Satellite_-_Sensor
Terra- MODIS
Satellite - Sensor
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facet_what:
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Terra
facet_what
Terra
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Iraq
facet_where
Iraq
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Baghdad
facet_where
Baghdad
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where
Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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April 2, 2003
facet_when
April 2, 2003
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2003
facet_when_year
2003
facet_when_year
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UID:
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SPD-ETOBS-9121
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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