Oil and Sulfur Smoke in Iraq

First captured in imagery acquired on June 25, oil and sulfur fires continued to burn in Iraq on June 28, 2003. This Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) image from the Terra satellite shows dark brown and black smoke from burning oil in the center of the image, and a white plume of smoke from a sulfur fire burning at an industrial facility in northern Iraq at the top. The white smoke is spread over much of the eastern half of the image, and according to local media reports is having severe environmental and health impacts.

The high-resolution image provided above is 500 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response System provides this image at MODIS’ maximum spatial resolution of 250 meters.

References & Resources

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

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June 28, 2003

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