• Two satellite perspectives of the Northwest United States region during a wildfire outbreak. The left view shows orange clouds of smoke visible from satellite. The right perspective shows lights visible from cities at nighttime as well as fires bright enough to be visible.
    Download Image

    The Northwest United States experienced many wildfires during the summer of 2015. NASA’s Aqua satellite took the daytime image (left). One of the larger fires, the Okanogan Complex Fire in Washington consumed 91,314 acres (370 square kilometers, or 143 square miles) by August 20. 

    The Suomi NPP satellite captured the nighttime image (right) with its Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor. The VIIRS has a “day-night band” that is highly sensitive to very low amounts of light, allowing it to detect both city lights and the wildfires.

  • Two satellite perspectives of the Northwest United States region during a wildfire outbreak. The left view shows orange clouds of smoke visible from satellite. The right perspective shows lights visible from cities at nighttime as well as fires bright enough to be visible.

Created:

August 2015

ID#:

WEB15116-2015

Copyright:

Smithsonian Institution

Rights Usage:

Contact Smithsonian Institution

Terms of Use:

Smithsonian Terms of Use

For print or commercial use please see permissions information.