Fires in eastern Russia

Snow is shown retreating from a small portion of southeastern Russia in this true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Aqua satellite from March 18, 2003. Where it has retreated, fires (red dots) are already burning, likely the result of early growing-season activities for farmer in the region. In many parts of the world, fire is used as a resource management tool, clearing land for planting, renewing pastures, and returning the remains of the previous season’s vegetation to the soil as nutrients. At upper left in the image, ice appears to be thinning in a few places over Lake Baikal.

---

Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published March 19, 2003
Data acquired March 18 - 18, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topic:

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires

Collections:

MODIS Rapid Response

Visible Earth