Fires and smoke around Lake Baikal, Russia - related image preview

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Fires and smoke around Lake Baikal, Russia - related image preview

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Fires and smoke around Lake Baikal, Russia - related image preview

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Fires and smoke around Lake Baikal, Russia

Snow is shown retreating from a small portion of southeastern Russia in this series of true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) images from the Aqua satellite and Terra satellites beginning on March 18, 2003, and stretching into May. Where snow 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 vegetatioto the soil as nutrients. At left in the images, ice appears to be thinning in a few places over Lake Baikal.


Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published April 22, 2003
Data acquired April 21 - 21, 2003

Source:
Aqua > MODIS
Topic:
Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires
Collections:
MODIS Rapid Response
Visible Earth