Fires in the Ishim Steppe (Russia and Kazakhstan)

Although fire is part of the natural cycle of the steppes of southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan, uncontrolled human use of fire for a variety of mostly agricultural purposes, may be exposing the grassland ecosystem to more than it has evolved to handle. This MODIS image from May 2, 2002, shows hundreds of fires burning in northern Kazakhstan (roughly the bottom fifth of the image) and south-central Russia (top). The snow-covered forest at the top of the image is the taiga (boreal forest), and a few scattered fires appear to be starting in that region as well.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published May 8, 2002
Data acquired May 2, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Collection:

Visible Earth