image: Fires that fill most of Central Africa's landscape were captured in this image from the Suomi NPP satellite using the VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) instrument on May 21, 2017. The African continent has more abundant burning than any other. MODIS observations from the Aqua and Terra satellites have shown that some 70 percent of the world's fires occur in Africa alone. The continent has a robust burning season for agriculture, but also experiences more lightning strikes than anywhere else in the world. Whether these fires are agricultural in nature or set by lightning strikes cannot be determined but it most probably a combination of both. Actively burning areas, detected by VIIRS thermal bands, are outlined in red. Suomi NPP is managed by NASA and NOAA. view more
Credit: NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz LANCE/EOSDIS MODIS Rapid Response Team, GSFC. Caption by Lynn Jenner with information from: Fire Observations and Vegetation -- 2002 -- 2011