NASA Imaging Technology Sheds Light on California’s Rim Fire
By Luisa Rollenhagen From Mashable
As California’s giant Rim Fire continues to rage, new imaging techniques by NASA are providing a more comprehensive picture of what’s happening on the ground, all captured from miles above Earth.
The blaze, which started on Aug. 17, has already consumed over 180,000 acres and is set to become the sixth largest in California’s history. NASA satellite imagery is helping to analyze the blaze as well as provide an incredibly accurate picture of its scope and trajectory while remaining at a safe distance.
For example, the image attached was taken by the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer, or MISR. The device is located on NASA’s Terra spacecraft, which is currently orbiting the Earth.
According to NASA’s website, the MISR “on NASA’s Terra spacecraft views every scene it observes from nine different angles. This unique design allows it to measure the height of smoke plumes using stereoscopic techniques.”
As the video above explains, when the images are all compiled together, the result shows the highest point on the fire’s smoke plume. The smoke currently reaches some four miles above sea level.
Another one of NASA’s orbital photos that provides vital information is the one shown below, which comes courtesy of an Atmospheric Infrared Sounder device, or AIRS, and was compiled over three days.
The colors on the map show the concentration of carbon monoxide created by the fire. Darker yellows and reds mean a greater concentration, which allows researchers to more easily assess the situation on the ground in California. Carbon monoxide trails there have reportedly reached an altitude of 18,000 feet.
NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite is also being employed for the purpose of capturing nighttime images of the blaze over four days, illustrating the spread of the fire into Yosemite National Park.
According to the fire monitoring site InciWeb, 23% of the Rim Fire is contained, and the blaze has already destroyed more than 20 structures. Right now, roughly 4,500 buildings are under threat and more than 3,000 firefighters have been deployed.
Homepage images: NASA/GSFC/LaRC/JPL, MISR Team
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