The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite detected several fires burning in southeast Queensland on September 26, 2011. The fires are outlined in red.
The fire season in Queensland, Australia runs through the dry winter and spring. The Queensland government declared a fire danger period from September 4, 2011, to January 2, 2012, when fires are allowed by permit only. The fires shown in this image likely include both deliberately set fires and natural wildfires.
Many of Australia’s ecosystems require fire to stimulate growth and regenerate some plant species. As a result, the landscape is extremely prone to fire and burns easily.
References & Resources
- CSIRO. (2008, February 14). Bushfire in Australia. Accessed September 26, 2011.
- CSIRO. (2008, April 30).The months of a fire season. Accessed September 26, 2011.
- Queensland Fire and Rescue Service. (2011, September). Fire danger period declared. Accessed September 26, 2011.
NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC. Caption by Holli Riebeek.
