Imagery in the News Departments May June

by | May 24, 2011

A MODIS image illustrates one of the primary reasons fire danger is extremely high in Texas: strong winds. High temperatures and dry conditions also have contributed to hazardous fire conditions (inset).

Drought and Heat Create Hazardous Fire Conditions in Texas 

So far in 2011, more than 1.4 million acres have burned in Texas. Some 800 fires have occurred throughout the state, burning 401 structures and costing two firefighters their lives. Why is fire activity so extreme in Texas this year? The above image, taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite, shows conditions on April 15, 2011. Wind whipped smoke and dust southeast across the state. The fires detected by MODIS are marked in red.

Warm temperatures, dry vegetation and low humidity also are contributing to hazardous fire conditions. Fire needs dry fuel to burn, and weather conditions in March and April turned Texas into a tinderbox. The state began the winter dry season with abundant vegetation, following a moist spring in 2010. But then drought settled over the state in late 2010 and early 2011, culminating in the driest March on record. Many areas received less than 5 percent of their normal rainfall, according to the state climatologist.

In addition to being dry, March and April were warmer than normal. The inset image above, made with data collected by the MODIS sensor on NASA's Terra satellite, shows ground temperatures for April 7 to April 14 compared with the long-term average for the week. The red tones indicate that most of Texas was much warmer than average, further drying out the abundant grasses, shrubs and trees already suffering from a lack of rain.

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