Fires in Interior Alaska
Fires in Interior Alaska
9 July 2009
Forest fires produced hazy skies over interior Alaska in the first week of July 2009. This natural-color (photo-like) image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASAs Aqua satellite shows several lightning-triggered fires (outlined in red) southwest of Fairbanks, Alaska, on 7 July .
The largest was the combined Bear Lake/Minto Flats South Fire; according to the situation summary report from the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center on 7 July, the fire was estimated to be just over 79,000 acres. The Bear Creek Fire is just inside the northern perimeter of Denali National Park. Dark brown patches mark the locations of old fires.
Most fires in interior Alaska are triggered by lightning. According to observations from the Alaska Fire Services automated lightning-detection network, interior Alaskas lightning season peaks in late June or early July. Most strikes occur between 4 and 6 p.m. as a result of severe storms; a severe storm may be accompanied by anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 lightning strikes.
AQUA
7 July 2009
The large image provided above is at MODIS maximum spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel.
(source: earth observatory)
References
Dissing, D., and Verbyla, D.Landscape Interactions with Thunderstorms in Interior Alaska. Accessed July 8, 2009.
Alaska Interagency Coordination Center. (2009, July 7).AICC Current Situation Report (pdf). Accessed July 8, 2009.
