NASA image: Fires in the Egypt River Delta
Monday, October 20, 2014 - 15:30
in Astronomy & Space
This NASA satellite image is of the Egyptian River Delta. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red. Each hot spot, which appears as a red mark, is an area where the thermal detectors on the MODIS instrument recognized temperatures higher than background. When accompanied by plumes of smoke, as in this image, such hot spots are diagnostic for fire. The location, widespread nature, and number of fires in this image and confirmation from the Ministry of Environment in Egypt. Fires are witnessed every year in October and November, caused by farmers burning leftover straw from the rice harvest. At least 946 fires have been set this year to burn the leftover straw.