Summer of Extremes in Australia

Drought and extreme heat primed much of the continent for unusually extreme fire activity, which was then followed by dangerous flooding.
Australian Fires Fueled Unprecedented Blooms
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Australian Fires Fueled Unprecedented Blooms

Iron-rich aerosols from the 2019-2020 fires fertilized huge phytoplankton populations in the far South Pacific.

Published Nov 4, 2021

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Water Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Cyclones over Australia
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Cyclones over Australia

Late summer cyclones Ferdinand and Esther passed over and near northern Australia.

Published Feb 25, 2020

Atmosphere Water Drought Fires

Australian Smoke Plume Sets Records
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Australian Smoke Plume Sets Records

Potent wildfires sent one of the largest plumes of smoke higher into the stratosphere than certain satellites have ever observed.

Published Jan 31, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Major Dust Storm Sweeps Across Australia
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Major Dust Storm Sweeps Across Australia

Following weeks of smoke, it was dust turning skies odd colors.

Published Jan 14, 2020

Image of the Day Land Drought Fires

Fires Ravage Kangaroo Island
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Fires Ravage Kangaroo Island

Nearly one-third of the island appears to have burned.

Published Jan 9, 2020

Land Life Drought Fires

Explosive Fire Activity in Australia
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Explosive Fire Activity in Australia

Fires are burning so fiercely that they are lofting smoke to unusual heights.

Published Jan 9, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Fires and Smoke Engulf Southeastern Australia
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Fires and Smoke Engulf Southeastern Australia

As predicted, the weekend brought extreme fire weather.

Published Jan 6, 2020

Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires

Thick Smoke Blankets Southeastern Australia
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Thick Smoke Blankets Southeastern Australia

Fires keep raging through an intense and deadly fire season.

Published Jan 2, 2020

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires

Seeing the Parts for the Whole
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Seeing the Parts for the Whole

Across two decades, the Terra satellite has been a great leap for Earth system science, observing how different spheres fit together as a whole.

Published Dec 18, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Fires Take a Toll on Australian Forests
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Fires Take a Toll on Australian Forests

Blazes that have raged since October have charred eucalyptus and rainforests in New South Wales.

Published Dec 12, 2019

Image of the Day Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Australian Fires Still Burning
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Australian Fires Still Burning

Bushfires continued in early December to produce smoke along the the country's eastern coast.

Published Dec 4, 2019

Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Aussie Smoke Plumes Crossing Oceans
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Aussie Smoke Plumes Crossing Oceans

As fires continue to rage in southern and eastern Australia, the smoke has risen high and far across the atmosphere.

Published Nov 20, 2019

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Drought Fires Remote Sensing

Bushfires Still Raging in New South Wales
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Bushfires Still Raging in New South Wales

Fire managers warned of “the most dangerous bushfire week this nation has ever seen.”

Published Nov 11, 2019

Image of the Day Heat Land Drought Fires Human Presence Remote Sensing

Early Season Fires Burning in New South Wales
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Early Season Fires Burning in New South Wales

Dry, hot, windy conditions persist as bushfires burn in the eastern part of the Australian state.

Published Nov 8, 2019

Image of the Day Heat Drought Fires

Bushfires in New South Wales
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Bushfires in New South Wales

Smoke billowed from a string of bushfires lining the coast of the Australian state.

Published Nov 7, 2019

Land Drought Fires

Fire in Western Australia
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Fire in Western Australia

The late-spring fire follows what has been a dry winter and spring across most of the country.

Published Nov 5, 2019

Land Drought Fires

Drought Exacerbates Australian Fires
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Drought Exacerbates Australian Fires

Several years of dry conditions have set the stage for a fierce fire season in several southeastern states.

Published Sep 13, 2019

Image of the Day Heat Drought Fires