Fires and smoke across Mato Grosso, Brazil

destroyed in 1995. The Brazilian National Space Research Institute (INPE) used data from NASA’s Landsat satellites to measure the rate of forest loss.

The large numbers of fires and smoke plumes in the image above suggest that rapid destruction of the Amazon continues. Acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on June 30, 2003, this image shows a portion of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Intact forest is dark green, while cleared land is tan or reddish-brown. Mato Grosso is located on the southern edge of the Amazon, east of Bolivia.

<p CLASS="caption" >For more information, read:
Brazilian Government Disputes Bleak Amazon Deforestation Outlook
Urgent measures needed to stop shocking deforestation rate in the Amazon

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published July 1, 2003
Data acquired June 30 - 30, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topics:

Human Dimensions > Environmental Impacts > Deforestation

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires

Collection:

MODIS Rapid Response