As the Aqua satellite passed over the island of Borneo on October 17, 2002, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer captured this true-color image and detected numerous fires (red dots) through the thick smoke. Fire is a major source of air pollution in the region, and its use as a land management tool continues to pose problems for regional air quality. According to news reports, the region's air pollution index climbed dangerously close to unhealthy levels this week.
Image courtesy Jesse Allen, based on data from the MODIS Rapid Response Team at NASA GSFC
Haze from fires is thick over the Indonesian island of Borneo in late summer and fall 2002. Scores of wildfires (red dots) were detected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instruments on the Terra and Aqua satellites.