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   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   May 8, 2022 - Expanding Burn Scars in New Mexico   
      
      Expanding Burn Scars in New Mexico   
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      Many of New Mexico’s wildfires continue to burn strongly through the   
      first week of May 2022, leaving behind expanding scars that can easily   
      be seen from space. On May 5, 2022, the Moderate Resolution Imaging   
      Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Terra satellite acquired a   
      false-color image of the burn scar from three of the northern New   
      Mexico fires. 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. At the edges of some fires,   
      particularly the Cerra Pelado and the Calf Canyon and Hermits Peak   
      complex, orange areas indicate actively burning fires.   
      
      The Cerro Pelado fire was first reported on April 22 in timber and   
      brush in the Santa Fe National Forest. On May 7, it had burned 33,163   
      acres, which is 15,308 acres more than on May 2 and is only 11 percent   
      contained. The Cook’s Peak fire ignited on April 17 from an   
      undetermined caused. It has burned 59, 379 acres, or only 300 acres   
      more than on May 2, and has now reached 97 percent containment.   
      
      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. On May   
      2, the fire complex had scorched 120,653 acres in size, but as of May   
      7, the fire stretches over 170,665 acres and is still only 21 percent   
      contained.   
      
      While this single image shows dramatic burn scars and continuing fire   
      expansion, the change is burn scar is best visualized by comparing two   
      images acquired on two different days. Thanks to the NASA Worldview   
      App, a roll-over comparison of MODIS false-color images of northern New   
      Mexico acquired on May 1, 2022, and this one, acquired on May 5 can be   
      found  here,   
      
      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: 5/5/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (76.6 KB),  500m (169.2 KB),  250m (89.2 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=2022-05-08   
       
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