Aerosol Optical Depth & Fire

Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 1 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 2 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 3 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 4 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 5 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 6 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 7 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 8 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 9 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 10 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 11 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 12 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 13 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 14 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 15 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 16 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 17 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 18 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 19 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 20 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 21 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 22 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 23 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 24 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 25 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 26 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 27 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 28 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 29 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 30 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 31 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 32 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 33 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 34 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 35 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 36 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 37 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 38 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 39 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 40 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 41 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 42 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 43 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 44 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 45 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 46 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 47 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 48 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 49 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 50 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 51 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 52 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 53 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 54 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 55 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 56 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 57 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 58 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 59 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 60 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 61 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 62 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 63 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 64 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 65 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 66 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 67 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 68 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 69 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 70 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 71 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 72 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 73 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 74 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 75 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 76 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 77 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 78 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 79 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 80 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 81 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 82 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 83 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 84 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 85 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 86 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 87 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 88 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 89 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 90 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 91 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 92 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 93 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 94 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 95 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 96 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 97 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 98 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 99 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 100 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 101 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 102 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 103 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 104 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 105 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 106 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 107 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 108 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 109 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 110 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 111 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 112 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 113 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 114 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 115 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 116 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 117 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 118 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 119 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 120 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 121 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 122 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 123 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 124 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 125 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 126 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 127 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 128 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 129 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 130 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 131 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 132 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 133 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 134 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 135 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 136 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 137 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 138 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 139 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 140 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 141 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 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Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 166 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 167 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 168 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 169 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 170 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 171 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 172 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 173 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 174 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 175 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 176 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 177 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 178 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 179 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 180 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 181 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 182 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 183 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 184 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 185 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 186 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 187 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 188 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 189 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 190 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 191 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 192 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 193 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 194 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 195 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 196 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 197 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 198 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 199 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 200 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 201 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 202 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 203 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 204 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 205 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 206 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 207 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 208 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 209 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 210 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 211 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 212 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 213 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 214 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 215 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 216 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 217 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 218 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 219 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 220 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 221 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 222 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 223 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 224 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 225 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 226 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 227 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 228 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 229 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 230 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 231 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 232 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 233 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 234 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 235 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 236 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 237 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 238 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 239 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 240 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 241 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 242 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 243 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 244 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 245 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 246 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 247 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 248 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 249 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 250 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 251 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 252 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 253 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 254 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 255 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 256 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 257 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 258 Global 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Optical Depth Image 282 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 283 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 284 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 285 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 286 Global Map Aerosol Optical Depth Image 287
Aerosol Optical Depth
Aerosol Optical Depth Scale
Fire
Fire Scale
Global Map Fire Image 1 Global Map Fire Image 2 Global Map Fire Image 3 Global Map Fire Image 4 Global Map Fire Image 5 Global Map Fire Image 6 Global Map Fire Image 7 Global Map Fire Image 8 Global Map Fire Image 9 Global Map Fire Image 10 Global Map Fire Image 11 Global Map Fire Image 12 Global Map Fire Image 13 Global Map Fire Image 14 Global Map Fire Image 15 Global Map Fire Image 16 Global Map Fire Image 17 Global Map Fire Image 18 Global Map Fire Image 19 Global Map Fire Image 20 Global Map Fire Image 21 Global Map Fire Image 22 Global Map Fire Image 23 Global Map Fire Image 24 Global Map Fire Image 25 Global Map Fire Image 26 Global Map Fire Image 27 Global Map Fire Image 28 Global Map Fire Image 29 Global Map Fire Image 30 Global Map Fire Image 31 Global Map Fire Image 32 Global Map Fire Image 33 Global Map Fire Image 34 Global Map Fire Image 35 Global Map Fire Image 36 Global Map Fire Image 37 Global Map Fire Image 38 Global Map Fire Image 39 Global Map Fire Image 40 Global 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Global Map Fire Image 274 Global Map Fire Image 275 Global Map Fire Image 276 Global Map Fire Image 277 Global Map Fire Image 278 Global Map Fire Image 279 Global Map Fire Image 280 Global Map Fire Image 281 Global Map Fire Image 282 Global Map Fire Image 283 Global Map Fire Image 284 Global Map Fire Image 285 Global Map Fire Image 286 Global Map Fire Image 287

In addition to gases and clouds, Earth's atmosphere contains tiny liquid and solid particles called aerosols. Aerosols influence air quality and public health, and they can influence climate by reflecting or absorbing sunlight and by changing where and when clouds form. Aerosols include sea salt, dust, and volcanic ash, as well as soot, sulfates, and other particles produced by people burning fossil fuels. Natural and human-caused fires are also significant sources of aerosols.

The aerosol maps show average monthly aerosol amounts around the world based on observations from the MODIS sensor on NASA's Terra satellite. Satellite measurements of aerosols, called aerosol optical thickness, are based on the fact that the particles change the way the atmosphere reflects and absorbs visible and infrared light. An optical thickness of less than 0.1 (palest yellow) indicates a crystal clear sky with maximum visibility, whereas a value of 1 (reddish brown) indicates very hazy conditions.

The fire maps show the locations of actively burning fires around the world on a monthly basis, based on observations from the MODIS sensors on NASA's Terra satellite. The colors are based on a count of the number (not size) of fires observed within a 1,000-square-kilometer area. White pixels show the high end of the count — as many as 30 fires in a 1,000-square-kilometer area per day. Orange pixels show as many as 10 fires, while red areas show as few as 1 fire per day.

The comparison shows the places and times of year in which fires play a major role in aerosols. For example, fire counts and aerosols increase in tandem across South America from July through September, and taper off in tandem in October. This pattern is due to land clearing and agricultural fires that are widespread across the Amazon Basin and Cerrado regions during the dry season. A similar relationship is apparent in Central America (March-May), central and southern Africa (June-September, and Southeast Asia (January-April).

In other cases, however, aerosol concentrations rise in the absence of significant fire activity. For example, from May through August each year, aerosol amounts rise dramatically around the Arabian Peninsula and nearby oceans, even though there is no significant fire activity in the vicinity. Here, dust storms are the likely source of the aerosols. An arc of elevated aerosol amounts at the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains in northern India in some months when fire activity is minimal (for example, November 2006) is an indication that urban or industrial air pollution is playing a role.

View, download, or analyze more of these data from NASA Earth Observations (NEO):
Aerosol Optical Depth
Fire