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   May 3, 2022 - Massive Burn Scars in New Mexico   
      
      Burn Scars in New Mexico   
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      Drought, low humidity, fierce wind, and tinder-dry vegetation has   
      exploded into an intense fire season across the southwest, with New   
      Mexico the hardest hit. Currently the largest fire in the United   
      States, the merged Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak complex had scorched   
      120,653 acres as of the morning of May 2, 2022. That’s very close to   
      the size of Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico and home to   
      more than 940,000 people. But it is not the only active fire in the   
      state—on the evening of May 2, the Inciweb Incident Information System   
      showed at least six large fires burning across the state.   
      
      On May 1, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on   
      board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a false-color image capturing the   
      massive burn scars left by three large fires burning in northern New   
      Mexico. The Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak complex is the largest, with   
      the Cerro Pelado fire to the west (left) and the Cooks Peak fire to the   
      northeast.   
      
      By using visible and near-infrared light (bands 7,2,1) burn scars –   
      which may appear black, brown, or brick red - stand out in stark   
      contrast to vegetation, which appears bright green. Open land appears   
      tan, deep water is colored deep blue and clouds, when present, may   
      appear either white or tinted with electric blue. The color variation   
      in burn scars depends on type of vegetation burned, the completeness of   
      the burn, the amount of residue remaining after the burn, and the age   
      of the burn. These three large burn scars all are a variation on brick   
      red, indicating freshly burned area. In several locations around the   
      edges of the Cerro Pelado and the Calf Canyon and Hermit’s Peak complex   
      actively burning fire appears bright orange.   
      
      The Cerro Pelado fire was first reported on April 22 in timber and   
      brush in the Santa Fe National Forest. It has burned 17,885 acres as of   
      May 2 and is only 10 percent contained. Extreme fire behavior is   
      expected to continue in the immediate future (through May 3).   
      
      The Cook’s Peak fire ignited on April 17 from an undetermined caused.   
      It has burned 59,076 acres and has reached 42 percent containment with   
      385 personnel working the fire.   
      
      The Calf Canyon fire began on April 19, and the cause is under   
      investigation. On April 6, the Hermits Peak fire began as a prescribed   
      burn in part of the Sant Fe National Forest, but erratic, gusty winds   
      blew it out of control. Strong winds on April 22-23 pushed the fire   
      through steep terrain and caused a merger with the Calf Canyon fire,   
      creating a fire complex with more than 180 miles of perimeter.   
      Residents in parts of San Miguel, Mora, and Colfax counties were told   
      to evacuate their homes at that time and many more are under evacuation   
      on May 2 or await potential orders. With 1,052 personnel working the   
      fire, which has reached 120,653 acres in size, the fire is only 20   
      percent contained.   
      
      While this single image gives significant information on the landcover   
      change from fire, observing two similar images acquired by MODIS on the   
      same satellite at two different days, one before the fires and one   
      after, is even more informative. Comparisons of false-color images can   
      dramatically reveal the changes caused by fire on the landscape.   
      
      Thanks to the NASA Worldview App, a roll-over comparison of MODIS   
      false-color images of northern New Mexico acquired on April 16, 2022,   
      and this one, acquired on May 1 can be found  here. To use the   
      roll-over bar, you may have to tap the up-arrow on the right-hand side   
      of the Worldview title box. You can then drag the bar to the right to   
      see the landcover change.   
      
      NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS)   
      Worldview application provides the capability to interactively browse   
      over 700 global, full-resolution satellite imagery layers and then   
      download the underlying data. Many of the available imagery layers are   
      updated within three hours of observation, essentially showing the   
      entire Earth as it looks "right now".   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Terra   
      Date Acquired: 5/1/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (102.2 KB),  500m (235.6 KB),  250m (117.4   
      KB)   
      Bands Used: 7,2,1   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-05-03   
       
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