Haze over Southern China
Fires in Australia
15 November 2006
Fires in Southern Queensland
On 13 November 2006, numerous fires were burning in southern Queensland, Australia. This image of the area was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite that day. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. The largest fires were burning in the Buckland Tableland region and at the southern end of the Expedition Range Mountains.
AQUA
13 November 2006
The high-resolution image provided above has a spatial resolution of 250 meters perpixel.
Fires on Cape York Peninsula
Numerous large fires were burning across the grasslands and savannas of Queenslands Cape York Peninsula on13 November 2006, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite passed overhead and captured this image. This image shows a close-up of two large fires burning in the southwestern part of the peninsula, south of the Mitchell River. (The large version of the image shows numerous fires burning across the entire peninsula). Places where the sensor detected actively burning fire are outlined in red. Unburned savanna vegetation appears tan, while burned areas are deep brown. Pockets of more lush vegetation line the dry riverbeds, appearing deep green. Sediment and the glare of sunlight give the waters of the Gulf of Carpentaria (image left) a washed-outappearance.
AQUA
13 November 2006
Traditional, Aboriginal landowners as well as modern farmers,ranchers, and scientists understand the importance of seasonal fires in maintaining the grasslands of the Cape York Peninsula. Without periodic fire, woody shrubs begin to encroach on thegrasslands. Prescribed fire is part of the land management strategy for the tropical savanna ecosystem of Cape York Peninsulatoday. The fires pictured here are probably intentional, natural-resource management fires. For more on the role of fire in tropicalsavannas, visit the website of Australias Tropical Savannas Cooperative ResearchCentre.
(source: EarthObservatory).
