image: This natural-color satellite image, collected by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard the Aqua satellite on Oct. 3, 2015, shows fire activity on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan. Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS's thermal bands, are outlined in red. Each hot spot is an area where the thermal detectors on the MODIS instrument recognized temperatures higher than background. When accompanied by plumes of smoke, as in this image, such hot spots are diagnostic for fire. view more
Credit: NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner