High-Resolution Image

Fires in southern California are designated by red dots in this image taken by the MODIS satellite sensor aboard the Terra satellite on October 27, 2006. These intense fires burning on the slopes of Mt. San Jacinto near the town of Cabazon were responsible for the deaths of five firefighters. Arson is suspected. In the image we see the smoke plume from the fires blown westward by the hot dry Santa Ana winds that blow from the interior deserts towards the ocean. These winds contribute to intensification of the fires, which makes controlling the fires especially difficult. Notice that the weather in the vicinity of the fires is clear and cloud free. The desert air of the Santa Anas inhibits cloud formation. We see the effect of the dry air extending out over the ocean.

This image illustrates a difficulty that we have in interpreting smoke-cloud interaction. We might assume that the presence of the smoke is the factor in inhibiting cloud formation, when actually it is the meteorological conditions that brings us both the smoke and the cloud-free conditions.

Image is courtesy of the MODIS Rapid Response Team

(submitted by Lorraine Remer)