Ned Potter is the science correspondent for ABC's "World News with Charles Gibson." He has reported on such topics as space exploration, the human genome and climate change.
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California Burning
September 01, 2009 4:29 PM
If you live outside southern California, and you want an idea of why the wildfires there are such news, take a look from above.This image, shot by NASA's Aqua satellite, shows a plume of smoke that extends diagonally northeast from the center of the frame, beyond the Nevada border. NASA's Earth Observatory site, which provided the image, helped it with the red outlines of the fire zones themselves, but the smoke is not enhanced. Click on the image, or HERE, to enlarge.
There is smoke, apparently, as far away as Colorado, where the state has issued a health advisory for the soot in the air.
I showed this picture, and others, to a couple of editors around here, and they said that from space the smoke looks like clouds. It apparently doesn't from the ground.September 1, 2009 in Science, Space | Permalink | Share | User Comments (4)
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Nice shot. Yea, sadly two firefighters have died because of these fires. I haven't been keeping up with it, so I don't know if it's suspected arson or natural causes. It's amazing how we think we have dominion over the natural world, and good old Mother Nature smackss us in the face and says "Oh no you don't." Ironic. Same thing with supposedly unsinkable ships. Turns out, they've all sank. Kind of the same thing, we say "X ship is unsinkable". Then God in his excellent sense of humor says "Nope, it isn't." And sinks it.
Posted by: Lawrence | Sep 2, 2009 8:28:26 AM
What a fantastic shot! But it just proves again that nothing can be hidden now from anybody...
Posted by: Marlies | Sep 3, 2009 6:30:00 PM
Perfect time to demonstate the Evergreen 747 aerial water delivery capabilities.
It can fly over the fire day and night and deliver water that will evaporate and COOL the fire.
Just saw 2 Superscoupers make two drops of 1,600 gallons each and put out the Palos Verde fire. First response should be by air. Then aircraft needed to extinquissh and prompt dispatch. First response to new fire should be by air.
Regards,
Captain John
Posted by: JOHN STOLLER | Sep 3, 2009 9:55:19 PM
This converted Boeing 747, after a wonderful career carrying passengers around the World many many times is now replaced by the new Boeing 777.
What a wonderful opportunity to continue use of these reliable aircraft to quickly extinquish the many fires that we will continue to have as our warming trend continues.
These planes together with the many smaller aircraft that carry from 50 to 12,000 gallons can be available in stragetic locations (high fire areas).
The first responder to any report of FIRE should be a helicopter carrying 50 gallons and after evualation of fire condition, can call for more aerial support or notify the local fire station.
Posted by: JOHN STOLLER | Sep 3, 2009 10:07:00 PM
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