image: Powerful fires currently scorching parts of Africa sent up plumes of smoke into the atmosphere, an image captured on Aug. 2, 2012, by the nation's newest Earth-observing satellite, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP). In the image, acquired on Aug. 2, 2012, hundreds of fires in central Africa sent up large amounts of smoke. Farmers set these fires to clear brush in preparation for Africa's growing season. In this image, Saharan dust can also be seen along the northwest coast of Africa. Smoke plumes from these central African fires reached southern Spain. Smoke changes the Earth's solar radiation balance, which in turn, affects the amount of heat in the Earth system, says Seftor. "Smoke can also change how clouds interact with solar radiation (the balance between incoming and outgoing radiation to the earth)." Smoke can affect the atmosphere in other ways as well. Long-lasting smoke plumes from the African fires can chemically react with other constituents in the atmosphere, producing ozone in the process, says Seftor. The JPSS program, funded by NOAA, provides the ground segment for Suomi NPP. NASA and NOAA funded the OMPS instrument. view more
Credit: NASA/Suomi NPP/Colin Seftor