image: These fires in Cambodia and Vietnam that dot the landscape in this diversely and widespread are usually agricultural fires deliberately set by farmers. Farmers often use fire to return nutrients to the soil and to clear the ground of unwanted plants prior to planting season. While fire helps enhance crops and grasses for pasture, the fires also produce smoke that degrades air quality. view more
Credit: NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner