Fires across Southern Africa

A grey pall of smoke hangs over the countries surrounding Lake Malawi in Southeastern Africa. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of fires (red dots) burn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (top left), and going counter-clockwise, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, and Tanzania. Burning is a common agricultural practice across the world, and is used widely throughout Africa. This true-color Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image was taken by the Aqua satellite on August 27, 2003.

---

Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published October 9, 2003
Data acquired August 27 - 27, 2003

Source:

Aqua > MODIS

Topic:

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires