Suggested Searches

1 min read

Fires in West Africa

Instruments:
Topics:
Fires in West Africa
December 1, 2002

Widespread burning is underway in West Africa as the continent’s burning pattern shifts from south of the equator to north. The burning season peaks in southern Africa in late summer or early fall, only to begin building in the areas between the southern edge of the Sahara and the equator. This true-color image of the widespread burning is centered on the country of Burkina and was captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite on December 1, 2002. Active fire detections are marked with red dots.

References & Resources

Image courtesy Jacques Descloitres, MODIS 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
Monroe Canyon Fire Intensifies
3 min read

The blaze in central Utah experienced rapid growth during dry, windy days in late July 2025, creating hazy skies throughout…

Article
A Golden Moment for Boreal Forests
3 min read

Hillsides in Alaska’s interior showed their changing colors ahead of the autumnal equinox.

Article