Satellite Images, GeoSpatial Data, Earth Views

Satellite Images California Wildfires

Satellite Images California Wildfires

These satellite images captured the fierce easterly desert winds blowing smoke from wildfires in Southern California. Gale-force winds have fed more than a dozen fires from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border since breaking out on Sunday.

Satellite Images California Wildfires

Image Copyright © 2007 NASA

NASA’s Terra satellite (above image) obtained new satellite images of the California wildfires on October 23, 2007, illustrating the immense scale of the blazes. The National Interagency Fire Center reports that 12 large, uncontained fires have burned over 335,000 acres in Southern California. The fires have continued to spread due to the fierce, dry Santa Ana winds, the wildfires show the area between Los Angeles and San Diego, California. Fire activity is denoted with red pixels. Vast plumes of thick smoke can be seen blowing out over the Pacific Ocean.

Satellite Images California Wildfires

 

Satellite Images California Wildfires

Image Copyright © European Space Agency (ESA).

These satellite images from ESA (above) of California Fires were taken on October 22, 2007, with the MERIS (Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) instrument aboard ESA’s Envisat satellite while working in full resolution mode to provide a spatial resolution of 300 meters.

Fires are raging from northern Los Angeles County and Malibu Beach through Orange County and down to San Diego County, these fires were caused by a long-term dry spell and, in some cases, downed power lines or destroyed power transformers. This fire is the worst seen ever and has caused nearly one million people to evacuate and over 1,000 homes so far have been lost.

The fire has been moving fast, giving those who need to be evacuated maybe a 90-minute opportunity to get out. Security has been an issue there, but guards and police have been designated to cover every corner to prevent potential problems.