This Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer image from August 27, 2002, shows just how strongly the southern African burning season can impact regional air quality. In this image, numerous fires (red dots) were detected by MODIS beneath a shroud of smoke that all but obscures Democratic Republic of Congo (top) and Angola (bottom).
Image by Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA-GSFC