image: This image captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer flying aboard the Terra satellite acquired this true-color image of the ongoing Russian wildfires on July 12, 2012 at 02:15 UTC (July 11 at 10:15 pm EDT/US) The instrument's thermal sensors detected heat signatures in multiple locations, and these appear in red in the image. When combined with smoke, such signatures indicate active fires. According to Wunderground.com, Russian firefighters have been battling huge blazes in Siberia for months. Central Russia experienced record warm temperatures 11 - 12°F (6 - 7°C) above average during June, feeding fires that have burned more area in 2012 than in 2010--the year of the unprecedented heat wave that killed over 55,000 people. The smoke from these wildfires were caught by the jet stream and have blown all the way to British Columbia, Canada and Seattle, Washington causing heightened amounts of air pollution, hazy days, and, the strangely positive side effect of amazingly brilliant sunsets. view more
Credit: Image: Jeff Schmaltz, NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team; Caption: Lynn Jenner, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center