Fires in Mozambique and Madagascar (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Fires in Mozambique and Madagascar

Caption

The location, widespread nature, and number of fires in this satellite image suggest that these fires were deliberately set to manage land. Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants. While fire helps enhance crops and grasses for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality. In Mozambique and Madagascar, the growing season runs from the first rains in Oct. - Nov. Thus, the clearing of lands in early Sept. heralds the new growing season.

Credit

NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner

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