Fire

The Power of Earth Observation



Credit: NASA/GSFC/METI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Northern California around Big Sur


Fires near Big Sur, Calif., continued to burn unchecked when the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument on NASA's Terra satellite captured this image on Sunday, June 29. In Northern California alone, fires have consumed more than 346,000 acres.At least 18,000 people have deployed to attempt to extinguish or control the flames.



NASA has collected an impressive set of satellite images of California on fire. These images are invaluable tools for the management of the natural hazards, hopefully avoiding a total catastrophe and reducing the losses, both people, nature and economics.