Fires in Angola and Zambia

Though still relatively early in the fire season, scores of fires are already burning in central and southern Africa. This MODIS image from May 11, 2002, shows fires (red dots) scattered throughout Angola (left) and Zambia (right). Even near the lush vegetation of Botswana's Okavango Delta (bottom center), fires are burning. Fire season begins in April and will not end until October. In southern Africa, as in many parts of the world, many fires are set intentionally by humans in order to clear land for farming or to force new growth of grasses on pasture lands.

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Jacques Descloitres, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA/GSFC

Published May 14, 2002
Data acquired May 11 - 11, 2002

Source:

Terra > MODIS

Topic:

Human Dimensions > Natural Hazards > Fires

Collection:

Visible Earth