Smoke plume from oil fire near Baghdad, Iraq - related image preview

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Smoke plume from oil fire near Baghdad, Iraq - related image preview

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Smoke plume from oil fire near Baghdad, Iraq

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite captured this image of oil smoke over central Iraq on June 25, 2003. The smoke appears as dark brown or black smudges in the center of the image, near Baghdad. A smaller, fading plume is visible to the west, along the Euphrates River.

A plume of white smoke originating at the top of the image drifts west and then southeast. This is smoke from a sulfur fire at an industrial sulfur facility in northern Iraq. According to local news reports, the burning sulfur is creating a health and environmental hazard, killing summer crops, and filling the air with poisonous gases. Imagery captured as recently as July 7, 2003, shows the fire is still burning.


Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published July 2, 2003
Data acquired June 25 - 25, 2003

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