Fires in Southeast Asia

On Tuesday afternoon, March 4, 2003, NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite detected hundreds of fires burning across Southeast Asia. This close to the equator, spring-like weather is firmly underway, and fires are being set to clear land for planting and stimulate new growth of pasture grasses. This biomass burning peaks in late winter or early (true) spring (i.e. according to the vernal equinox, not the weather), but not before it significantly impacts air quality for hundreds, even thousands of miles around. This image shows (clockwise from top right) China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos (east) and Thailand (west), and Myanmar. Notice the widespread deforestation, especially in eastern Thailand and Cambodia.

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Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS RapidResponse Team, NASA/GSFC

Published March 4, 2003
Data acquired March 4 - 4, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topics:

Human Dimensions > Environmental Impacts > Biomass Burning

Human Dimensions > Environmental Impacts > Deforestation

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response