NASA MODIS Image of the Day: February 5, 2007 – Fires in Southeast Asia
On January 28, 2007, the MODIS on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this image of scores of fires burning across Southeast Asia, mostly in Cambodia around the Tonle Sap. Places where MODIS detected actively burning fires are marked in red.
In Cambodia, the dry season of the monsoon generally spans the months of November through April. During that time, people ignite a host of agricultural and accidental fires across the country. The causes of the fires vary, from fires set to burn pasture lands in anticipation of new growth from summer rains, to clearing of forests through slash-and-burn agriculture. Although agricultural fires are not necessarily immediately hazardous, such large-scale burning can have a strong impact on weather, climate, human health, and natural resources.
