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Aqua of Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) and California and Los Angeles
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Santa Ana Winds Fuel Califor
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Powerful Santa Ana winds sto
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10/14/08
| Description |
Powerful Santa Ana winds stoked several major wildfires in Southern California on Monday, Oct. 13, 2008, when instruments on NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image. As of October 14, the blazes had scorched nearly 12,000 acres, destroyed dozens of homes and forced the evacuation of neighborhoods in suburban Los Angeles and northern San Diego County, according to fire officials. Firefighters had little to no containment of any of the fires early Tuesday, and reported winds blowing at 50 mph in parts of the affected area. Wind gusts of up to 80 mph are possible in higher elevations later in the day. Image credit: NASA's MODIS Rapid Response Team Text credit: Laura Motel, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center |
| Date |
10/14/08 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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California Fires MODIS image
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| Title |
California Fires MODIS imagery and TOMS Aerosols from October 2003 |
| Abstract |
This animation sequences through the MODIS imagery of the devastating Californian fires from October 23, 2003 through October 29, 2003. Then the animation resets to October 23, 2003 and zooms out to see the TOMS aerosol sequence. It clearly shows that the California fires had an impact on air quality as far east as Maine. |
| Completed |
2003-11-24 |
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Southern California Fires, O
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| Title |
Southern California Fires, October 27, 2003 (Fire Pixels Included) |
| Abstract |
This visualization shows the Southern California and Mexican fires as seen by Aqua/MODIS on October 27, 2003. This version included red fire pixels to display each incident fire. |
| Completed |
2003-10-28 |
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Southern California Fires, O
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| Title |
Southern California Fires, October 27, 2003 (Fire Pixels Included) |
| Abstract |
This visualization shows the Southern California and Mexican fires as seen by Aqua/MODIS on October 27, 2003. This version included red fire pixels to display each incident fire. |
| Completed |
2003-10-28 |
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Santa Ana winds on January 6
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| Title |
Santa Ana winds on January 6, 2003 |
| Abstract |
On January 6, 2003, Santa Ana winds blew dust from interior deserts and other dry areas out over California and the Pacific Ocean. |
| Completed |
2003-01-07 |
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Southern California Fires, O
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| Title |
Southern California Fires, October 27, 2003 |
| Abstract |
This visualization shows the Southern California and Mexican fires as seen by Aqua/MODIS on October 27, 2003. |
| Completed |
2003-10-28 |
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Southern California Fires, O
…
| Title |
Southern California Fires, October 27, 2003 |
| Abstract |
This visualization shows the Southern California and Mexican fires as seen by Aqua/MODIS on October 27, 2003. |
| Completed |
2003-10-28 |
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Cachuma Fire in California
| Title |
Cachuma Fire in California |
| Description |
The California fire season began on May 1, and already several dangerous wildfires are burning across the state. Pictured in this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from NASA's Terra satellite on May 4, 2004, is the Cachuma Fire (outlined in red), southeast of the city of Santa Maria (gray patch at upper left of the image) in the San Rafael Mountains. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. The large-format image is the same spatial resolution as the image above, but shows a wider area of the state, including fires southeast of Los Angeles. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Cachuma Fire in California
| Title |
Cachuma Fire in California |
| Description |
The California fire season began on May 1, and already several dangerous wildfires are burning across the state. Pictured in this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from NASA's Terra satellite on May 4, 2004, is the Cachuma Fire (outlined in red), southeast of the city of Santa Maria (gray patch at upper left of the image) in the San Rafael Mountains. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. The large-format image is the same spatial resolution as the image above, but shows a wider area of the state, including fires southeast of Los Angeles. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Day Fire in Southern Califor
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| Title |
Day Fire in Southern California |
| Description |
The Day Fire had burned 13,646 acres of Los Padres National Forest by September 10, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ]) on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite captured this image. The fire, outlined in red, started on September 4 in the mountains about 40 miles north of Los Angeles and 20 miles north of Santa Clarita, the cement-colored area below the fire in this image. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, [ http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html ] the fire was burning though chaparral and scattered timber and was threatening structures and archeological sites. The burning woody material creates the thick, tan smoke seen here. The large image provided above has a resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides daily images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA5 ] of California in a variety of resolutions. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC. |
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Day Fire in Southern Califor
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| Title |
Day Fire in Southern California |
| Description |
The winds spreading smoke from the Day Fire northwest of Los Angeles, California, have shifted once again. On September 20, 2006, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite captured this image of smoke spreading southeast over Los Angeles. The day before, smoke blew northeast, [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13881 ] while on September 17, the smoke blew west, [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/natural_hazards_v2.php3?img_id=13869 ] over the Pacific Ocean. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. According to the September 21 report from the National Interagency Fire Center, [ http://www.nifc.gov/information.html ] the Day Fire had grown to 99,950 acres and was 35 percent contained. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Day Fire in Southern Califor
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| Title |
Day Fire in Southern California |
| Description |
A shift in the winds affecting the Day Fire [ http://www.inciweb.org/incident/475/ ] northwest of Los Angeles swept smoke to the northeast on September 19, 2006. On the previous day, winds had pushed a thick plume of smoke westward over the Pacific Ocean. This pair of images of the fire on September 19 was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite. The natural-color image at top is similar to a digital photo, and uses only visible light. The image at bottom has been enhanced with MODIS' observations of shortwave- and near-infrared light to make the burned areas (deep red) stand out from unburned vegetation (green). In both images the actively burning parts of the fire are outlined in red. In the false-color image, bright pink glows within the fire perimeters are probably areas of open flame. According to the September 20 report from the National Interagency Fire Center, [ http://www.nifc.gov/information.html ] the Day Fire was 93,339 acres and 20 percent contained. Parts of the Angeles and Los Padres National Forests were closed, and evacuations and road closures in the area continued. The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides daily images of the entire western United States at additional resolutions. [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA5 ] NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Day Fire in Southern Califor
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| Title |
Day Fire in Southern California |
| Description |
Northwest of Los Angeles, the Day Fire was churning out a thick, snake-like plume of smoke (see large image) on September 17, 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite passed overhead and captured this image. Places where the sensor detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. The smoke blankets several of the Channel Islands, leaving Santa Rosa partially visible. The human-caused fire had been burning since September 4 in mixed brush and scattered timber in the Los Padres and Angeles National Forests and the Sespe Wilderness. As of September 18, 2006, the 60,589-acre fire was only about 15 percent contained. Evacuations and road closures were in place in the area, including the northwest part of Fillmore. The Day Fire grew explosively over the weekend of September 16, when winds picked up dramatically. The blaze grew more than 50,000 acres in one day according to an article [ http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-091706fire,0,5673735.story?track=mostviewed-homepage ] on the LATimes.com Website. Daily images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA5/2006260 ] of the area provided by the MODIS Rapid Response Team show a dramatic difference in the fire's size and smokiness on September 16 and 17. According to the daily report from the National Interagency Fire Center, [ http://www.nifc.gov/information.html ] the rapidly spreading fire threatened homes, a watershed, campgrounds, power and gas lines, and communications equipment. NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
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Esperanza Fire
| Title |
Esperanza Fire |
| Description |
Waves of gray-brown smoke washed over the mountains southeast of Los Angeles and out over the Pacific on October 26, 2006. West of Palm Springs, California, the Esperanza Fire had ballooned under the influence of Santa Ana winds to more than 19,000 acres as of the morning of October 27, according to the daily report from the National Interagency Fire Center. [ http://www.nifc.gov/information.html ] Racing through grass, brush, and timber, the blaze had forced hundreds to evacuate, and it killed several firefighters who were working to protect homes. Fire officials are reporting the cause of the blaze as arson. This photo-like image shows the fire and surrounding area captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite on October 26. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. The Santa Ana Mountains peek out from beneath the smoke near the southeastern suburbs of Los Angeles. Santa Ana winds are a California firefighter's nightmare. These blustery, dry, and often hot winds blow out of the desert and race through canyons and passes in the mountains on their way toward the coast. The air is hot not because it is bringing heat from the desert, but because it is flowing downslope from higher elevations. As fall progresses, cold air begins to sink into the Great Basin deserts to the east of California. As the air piles up at the surface, high pressure builds, and the air begins to flow downslope toward the coast. When winds blow downslope, the air gets compressed, which causes it to warm and dry out. In fact, the air can warm at a rate of 10 degrees Celsius per kilometer of descent (29 degrees Fahrenheit per mile). Canyons and passes funnel the winds, which increases their speed. Not only do the winds spread the fire, but they also dry out vegetation, making it even more flammable. A 250-meter-resolution KMZ file [ http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/Archive/Oct2006/Esperanza_AMO_2006299.kmz ] of the Esperanza Fire is available for use with Google Earth. [ http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html ] NASA image by Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center. |
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Fire East of Los Angeles
| Title |
Fire East of Los Angeles |
| Description |
Although evacuation orders had been lifted on February 8, 2006, for many residents forced form their homes by a wildfire in California, an image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite revealed a large burned area and a still-burning northern flank. The image uses both visible light, like a digital photo, and shortwave and near-infrared electromagnetic energy that MODIS detected. This combination of wavelengths of light makes vegetation appear bright green, water dark blue to nearly black, and burned areas bright pink or red. Clouds are light blue or white. This image was captured by MODIS on February 8, and shows the location where MODIS detected actively burning fire outlined in red. The bright orange glow in this type of image often indicates areas that contain open flame. This image is shown at MODIS' maximum spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The larger image shows a wider region. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides additional images [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?USA5 ] of this area on a daily basis. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Fires Across the United Stat
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| Title |
Fires Across the United States |
| Description |
This expansive image of the United States was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on NASA?s Terra and Aqua satellites. The left hand portion of the image comes from Aqua MODIS observations captured on the afternoon of October 22, 2003, while the right hand part of the image is from Terra MODIS observations captured a few hours earlier. Several geographic regions are experiencing fires, which were detected by the sensors and are marked with red dots. At upper left, fires are still burning across the Northern Rockies, the highest concentration is in Idaho, with additional fires in Montana to its east, and southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, to the west. In the Southwest, fires are burning in southern California near Los Angeles (gray patch right at edge of image to the north of the Baja Peninsula), as well as in the arc of mountains running through Arizona. At top center, fires are scattered across the northern Great Plains, from North Dakota and across the United States? border into Canada. Far to the south, dozens more fires are burning in the Mississippi River Valley in Mississippi (against right edge), Louisiana (to the west) and Arkansas (north of Louisiana). The high-resolution image provided above is 2 kilometers per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS? maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC |
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Fires Across the United Stat
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| Title |
Fires Across the United States |
| Description |
This expansive image of the United States was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometers (MODIS) on NASA?s Terra and Aqua satellites. The left hand portion of the image comes from Aqua MODIS observations captured on the afternoon of October 22, 2003, while the right hand part of the image is from Terra MODIS observations captured a few hours earlier. Several geographic regions are experiencing fires, which were detected by the sensors and are marked with red dots. At upper left, fires are still burning across the Northern Rockies, the highest concentration is in Idaho, with additional fires in Montana to its east, and southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, to the west. In the Southwest, fires are burning in southern California near Los Angeles (gray patch right at edge of image to the north of the Baja Peninsula), as well as in the arc of mountains running through Arizona. At top center, fires are scattered across the northern Great Plains, from North Dakota and across the United States? border into Canada. Far to the south, dozens more fires are burning in the Mississippi River Valley in Mississippi (against right edge), Louisiana (to the west) and Arkansas (north of Louisiana). The high-resolution image provided above is 2 kilometers per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS? maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC |
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Fires in California
| Title |
Fires in California |
| Description |
On July 13, 2004, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA?s Aqua satellite captured this image of two large fires burning in California: the Meadow Fire (north) is burning in Yosemite National Park and was started by lightning, while the Pine Fire (large fire to the south) is burning northwest of Los Angeles. Close-up views of each fire appear in the right half of the image. Image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Fires in California
| Title |
Fires in California |
| Description |
A fast-moving fire north of Los Angeles, California, forced thousands of people from their homes over the weekend of July 17 and 18, 2004. This image of the Foothill Fire was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)on NASA's Aqua satellite on July 18, 2004. The areas where MODIS detected active fire are outlined in red. Image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Fires in California
| Title |
Fires in California |
| Description |
Several fast-moving wildfires have been nipping at the margins of Los Angeles in the third week of July 2004. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite captured this image of the Crown Fire on July 21, 2004. The area outlined in red shows the area in which MODIS detected actively burning fire. The Crown Fire had burned about 8,000 acres along the southern edge of the Mojave Desert in the Angeles National Forest as of July 21. Image by Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-GSFC |
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Santa Ana Wind Event Over Ca
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| Title |
Santa Ana Wind Event Over California |
| Description |
On January 6, 2002, Santa Ana winds blew dust from interior deserts and other dry areas out over California and the Pacific Ocean. This true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Aqua satellite shows streamers of dust blowing southwestward over the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which is roughly centered in the top half of the image. Santa Ana winds occur below mountain passes and in canyons in Southern California, and result from high atmospheric pressure forming over the Great Basin (between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Rocky Mountains). In the northern hemisphere air moves clockwise around areas of high pressure, so winds blow down slope from the Great Basin toward the Pacific. The air is already dry and warm, having originated over the desert regions of the Great Basin, and it becomes warmer and drier as it rushes down the slopes of the mountains. To qualify as a Santa Ana wind event, speeds must generally exceed 25 knots (28 miles per hour). These events pose great fire hazards, and in this image MODIS detected a few active fires, which are marked with red outlines. A smaller bushfire that has forced the evacuation of hundred of homes near Malibu had not reached detectable levels yet, but a plume of smoke is visible mingling with the dust over Santa Monica Bay, northwest of Los Angeles. For more on Santa Ana winds, visit the San Diego National Weather Service web site. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC |
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Santa Ana Wind Event Over Ca
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| Title |
Santa Ana Wind Event Over California |
| Description |
On January 6, 2002, Santa Ana winds blew dust from interior deserts and other dry areas out over California and the Pacific Ocean. This true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Aqua satellite shows streamers of dust blowing southwestward over the Los Angeles metropolitan area, which is roughly centered in the top half of the image. Santa Ana winds occur below mountain passes and in canyons in Southern California, and result from high atmospheric pressure forming over the Great Basin (between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Rocky Mountains). In the northern hemisphere air moves clockwise around areas of high pressure, so winds blow down slope from the Great Basin toward the Pacific. The air is already dry and warm, having originated over the desert regions of the Great Basin, and it becomes warmer and drier as it rushes down the slopes of the mountains. To qualify as a Santa Ana wind event, speeds must generally exceed 25 knots (28 miles per hour). These events pose great fire hazards, and in this image MODIS detected a few active fires, which are marked with red outlines. A smaller bushfire that has forced the evacuation of hundred of homes near Malibu had not reached detectable levels yet, but a plume of smoke is visible mingling with the dust over Santa Monica Bay, northwest of Los Angeles. For more on Santa Ana winds, visit the San Diego National Weather Service web site. Image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC |
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Fires in Southern California
| Title |
Fires in Southern California |
| Description |
Several large fires were burning in southern California in late October 2003. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this image of the Los Angeles region on October 23, 2003, and both the Grand Prix Fire (north of center) and the Roblar 2 Fire (south of center) are obvious in the image. Each of the fires is producing a large smoke plume. The large grayish patch along the coast of California in the upper left quadrant of the image is Los Angeles. The Grand Prix Fire has forced the closure of two major highways and spurred the evacuation of thousands of residents east of Los Angeles. Conditions for firefighters are treacherous, gusty Santa Ana winds and triple-digit temperatures are making the job of controlling the fire difficult. The fire has already burned thousands of acres in the San Bernadino National Forest. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
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Fires in Southern California
| Title |
Fires in Southern California |
| Description |
Several large fires were burning in southern California in late October 2003. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this image of the Los Angeles region on October 23, 2003, and both the Grand Prix Fire (north of center) and the Roblar 2 Fire (south of center) are obvious in the image. Each of the fires is producing a large smoke plume. The large grayish patch along the coast of California in the upper left quadrant of the image is Los Angeles. The Grand Prix Fire has forced the closure of two major highways and spurred the evacuation of thousands of residents east of Los Angeles. Conditions for firefighters are treacherous, gusty Santa Ana winds and triple-digit temperatures are making the job of controlling the fire difficult. The fire has already burned thousands of acres in the San Bernadino National Forest. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
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Fires in Southern California
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Fires in Southern California |
| Description |
Several massive wildfires were raging across southern California over the weekend of October 25, 2003. Whipped by the hot, dry Santa Ana winds that blow toward the coast from interior deserts, at least one fire grew 10,000 acres in just 6 hours. (Compare this scene with one captured by Aqua MODIS just one day before.) The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite captured this image of the fires and clouds of smoke spread over the region on October 26, 2003. Moving northwest to southeast along the coast, the first cluster of red dots is a combination of the Piru, Verdale, and Simi Incident Fires, the next cluster?to the east of Los Angeles?is the Grand Prix (west) and Old (east) Fires, to their south is the Roblar 2 Fire, next is the Paradise Fire, then the massive Cedar Fire, whose thick smoke is completely overshadowing the coastal city of San Diego, finally, at the California-Mexico border is the Otay Fire. At least 13 people have lost their lives because of these fires, many of which appear to have been caused by carelessness and arson. Thousands have been evacuated across the region and hundreds of homes have been lost. The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS? maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
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Fires in Southern California
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Fires in Southern California |
| Description |
The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this image of southern California and the city of Los Angeles (center) on October 25, 2003. A huge wildfire was burning east of the city and has been detected by MODIS and marked with a red outline. The fire producing all the smoke is the Grand Prix Fire and to its east is the Old Fire. Northwest of the city is the smaller Piru Fire. Just one day later, several massive fires were raging across the region, driven by the fierce Santa Ana winds that blow toward the coast from the interior deserts. The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS? maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC |
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Fires in Southern California
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Fires in Southern California |
| Description |
Driven by Santa Ana winds, several large wildfires flared across Southern California over the weekend of October 20, 2007. This pair of images of the area around Los Angeles on October 21 shows just how rapidly the fires grew. The top image, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite at 11:35 a.m. local time, shows several active fires (outlined in red) emitting small plumes of smoke. By 2:50 p.m., when the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite passed overhead, smoke was pouring from several large blazes northwest of Los Angeles. Although Aqua MODIS only caught the edge of the scene during this satellite overpass, the plumes of smoke and dust that can be seen blowing off the coast in the large image indicate the intensity of the winds and the presence of additional fires farther south. Santa Ana winds are a California firefighter's nightmare. These blustery, dry, and often hot winds blow out of the desert and race through canyons and passes in the mountains on their way toward the coast. The air is hot not because it is bringing heat from the desert, but because it is flowing downslope from higher elevations. As fall progresses, cold air begins to sink into the Great Basin deserts to the east of California. As the air piles up at the surface, high pressure builds, and the air begins to flow downslope toward the coast. When winds blow downslope, the air gets compressed, which causes it to warm and dry out. In fact, the air can warm at a rate of 10 degrees Celsius per kilometer of descent (29 degrees Fahrenheit per mile). Canyons and passes funnel the winds, which increases their speed. Not only do the winds spread the fire, but they also dry out vegetation, making it even more flammable. The large images provided above have a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?AERONET_La_Jolla ] images of the region in additional resolutions. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Fires in Southern California
| Title |
Fires in Southern California |
| Description |
Driven by Santa Ana winds, several large wildfires flared across Southern California over the weekend of October 20, 2007. This pair of images of the area around Los Angeles on October 21 shows just how rapidly the fires grew. The top image, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] on NASA's Terra [ http://terra.nasa.gov ] satellite at 11:35 a.m. local time, shows several active fires (outlined in red) emitting small plumes of smoke. By 2:50 p.m., when the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov ] satellite passed overhead, smoke was pouring from several large blazes northwest of Los Angeles. Although Aqua MODIS only caught the edge of the scene during this satellite overpass, the plumes of smoke and dust that can be seen blowing off the coast in the large image indicate the intensity of the winds and the presence of additional fires farther south. Santa Ana winds are a California firefighter's nightmare. These blustery, dry, and often hot winds blow out of the desert and race through canyons and passes in the mountains on their way toward the coast. The air is hot not because it is bringing heat from the desert, but because it is flowing downslope from higher elevations. As fall progresses, cold air begins to sink into the Great Basin deserts to the east of California. As the air piles up at the surface, high pressure builds, and the air begins to flow downslope toward the coast. When winds blow downslope, the air gets compressed, which causes it to warm and dry out. In fact, the air can warm at a rate of 10 degrees Celsius per kilometer of descent (29 degrees Fahrenheit per mile). Canyons and passes funnel the winds, which increases their speed. Not only do the winds spread the fire, but they also dry out vegetation, making it even more flammable. The large images provided above have a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/subsets/?AERONET_La_Jolla ] images of the region in additional resolutions. NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] Goddard Space Flight Center |
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Springtime Heat Wave Bakes S
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Springtime Heat Wave Bakes Southern California |
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Record-breaking temperatures broiled much of California on May 2, 2004, as an ongoing spring heat wave continued to plague the region. According to the Associate Press, sixteen areas in Southern California set new record highs for the day, including downtown Los Angeles, which reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36 C). The new record in Long Beach, 102 degrees F (39 C), outpaced the previous record by 10 degrees F. Baked in the summer sun, the land had reached sizzling hot temperatures, nearing 150 degrees F (70 C) when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer [ http://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov ] (MODIS) flew over on the Aqua [ http://aqua.nasa.gov/ ] satellite at 2:20 pm, US Pacific time. Land temperatures are often higher than air temperatures. A sandy beach can be painfully hot even though the air temperature is comfortable, for example. This image shows the extreme high temperatures in Southern California and Nevada in dark red. The Sierra Nevada Mountains, still capped with snow, form a cool blue line down the eastern edge of the state. The high-resolution image provided above is at MODIS? maximum resolution of 250 meters per pixel. The image is available in additional resolutions [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/?2004123-0502/California.A2004123.2120.lst ]. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres and Ana Pinheiro, MODIS Rapid Response Team [ http://rapidfire.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov ] at NASA GSFC |
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Fires Southeast of Los Angel
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Fires Southeast of Los Angeles, California |
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The California fire season began on May 1, and already several dangerous wildfires are burning across the state. Pictured in this Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from NASA's Terra satellite on May 4, 2004, are the Cerritos Fire (top) and Eagle Fire (bottom) southeast of Los Angeles (visible as a large gray patch at upper left). The Cerritos Fire had active fire detections (red outlines) at both the northern and southern margins of the fire. It had destroyed at least 15 residences and impacted more than 15,000 acres as of Tuesday, May 4. The Eagle Fire, east of the city of Temecula, had claimed 14 residences, shut down the southbound lanes of Highway 79, and has left a dangerous trail of burned power poles and damaged electric lines along the highway. The large-format image is the same spatial resolution as the image above, but shows a wider area of the state, including a large fire in Santa Barbara County. Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA-Goddard Space Flight Center |
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