July 26, 2014 - Fires and smoke in northern Canada

Fires and smoke in northern Canada

This true-color satellite image was acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite on July 14, 2014. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS’s thermal bands, are outlined in red.

The Great Slave Lake, just southwest of center, is nearly obscured by the heavy smoke pouring off the multiple fires. To the northeast of Great Slave Lake, a circle of red hotpots marks fires burning east of Yellowknife. An additional circle of hotspots can be found northwest of Yellowknife. High rising smoke appears to remain under the layer of bright white cloud drifting over the scene.

According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Center, on July 14 there were 175 fires burning over 842,331 hectares. A low winter snowpack leading to reduced soil moisture, a hot spring, and heavy winds have combined to create a significant fire season across much of Canada this year.

Image Facts
Satellite: Aqua
Date Acquired: 7/14/2014
Resolutions: 1km ( B), 500m ( B), 250m ( B)
Bands Used: 1,4,3
Image Credit: Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC