Suggested Searches

1 min read

Fires and Heavy Smoke in Sumatra

Instruments:
2002-03-13 00:00:00
March 13, 2002

The smoke was so thick over some parts of Sumatra, Indonesia, in late February 2002 that officials were forced to close schools due to the health hazard. As can be seen in this true-color scene acquired on March 13, 2002, many fires continue to burn along the eastern side of Sumatra while strong winds are blowing the smoke back over the island.

This image was acquired by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), flying aboard NASA’s Terra satellite. The red boxes (see the high-resolution image) indicate the areas recently burned or still burning.

References & Resources

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC

You may also be interested in:

Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.

New Timing for Stubble Burning in India
5 min read

Scientists say the seasonal crop fires are burning later in the day than in previous years.

Article
Fires Erupt in South-Central Chile 
2 min read

Tens of thousands of people fled to safety as blazes spread throughout the country’s Biobío and Ñuble regions.

Article
Winds Whip Up Fires and Dust on the Southern Plains
3 min read

Dry, gusty conditions spurred fast-growing fires in Oklahoma and Kansas, along with dangerous dust storms across the region.

Article