Images
December 4, 2010 - Fires in West Africa
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Red outlines the location of fires across West Africa in this photo-like image. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired the image on November 30, 2010, when the fire season was just getting started. The widespread nature of the fires is an indicator that they were probably intentionally set to manage land.
Though the fires themselves are small, cumulatively they produce significant amounts of smoke. The particles and gases in smoke are hazardous to human health, and they contribute to the creation of ground-level ozone. The fires release carbon dioxide and aerosol particles, both of which affect Earth’s climate. The fire season in West Africa usually peaks in January.
The countries captured in this image, beginning in the northwest and moving east are Mali, Burkin Faso, Niger; New Guinea and Liberia; Cote d’Ivorie, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria. Fires are present in all countries except Liberia. The cloud painted water in the south is the Gulf of Guinea.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/30/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
Red outlines the location of fires across West Africa in this photo-like image. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite acquired the image on November 30, 2010, when the fire season was just getting started. The widespread nature of the fires is an indicator that they were probably intentionally set to manage land.
Though the fires themselves are small, cumulatively they produce significant amounts of smoke. The particles and gases in smoke are hazardous to human health, and they contribute to the creation of ground-level ozone. The fires release carbon dioxide and aerosol particles, both of which affect Earth’s climate. The fire season in West Africa usually peaks in January.
The countries captured in this image, beginning in the northwest and moving east are Mali, Burkin Faso, Niger; New Guinea and Liberia; Cote d’Ivorie, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria. Fires are present in all countries except Liberia. The cloud painted water in the south is the Gulf of Guinea.
Image Facts
Satellite:
Aqua
Date Acquired: 11/30/2010
Resolutions:
1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit:
Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC
