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   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   October 25, 2022 - Dust and Fire in Kansas and Nebraska   
      
      Dust   
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      Intense winds drove plumes of dust across Kansas and Nebraska on   
      October 23, 2022. On that same day, the Moderate Resolution Imaging   
      Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board NASA’s Aqua satellite captured a   
      true-color image that showed thick tan swaths obscuring most of western   
      Kansas from view while thinner dust extended into southern and western   
      Nebraska.   
      
      Dust storms are not unusual in the region, especially in spring and   
      fall when gusty winds are common, precipitation scarce, and many   
      agricultural fields become bare during planting and post-harvest.   
      Currently, worsening drought has made severe dust storms more likely.   
      According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, most of Kansas is in “extreme   
      drought” or “exceptional drought.” According to a story published only   
      by Kansas Public Radio on October 23, “Kansas farmers say this year’s   
      drought is among the worst they’ve seen, impacting nearly every crop   
      and nearly every county in the state.” The story quotes Kansas Farm   
      Bureau Director Mark Nelson as saying, “It’s been more than 10 years   
      since we’ve seen conditions like this. But this time, he says, it’s   
      even more widespread.” Dust storms can remove soil nutrients and   
      decrease agricultural productivity and the ultra-fine particles are   
      also a threat to health if inhaled.   
      
      Drought and extensive acreage of dried autumn grass and field stubble,   
      along with high wind, create a tinder-box condition, ripe for   
      fast-growing wildfires. The Governor of Kansas declared a State of   
      Disaster Emergency due to the high risk of wildland fires, as Red Flag   
      warnings and wind advisories were in effect. That placed some   
      firefighting assets on standby to rapidly respond to fire outbreaks.   
      Several grassland fires were reported across Kansas on October 23, and   
      four fires, each marked by a red “hot spot” are visible in the image.   
      Most fires were quickly extinguished.   
      
      Image Facts   
      Satellite:  Aqua   
      Date Acquired: 10/23/2022   
      Resolutions:  1km (95.2 KB),  500m (323.4 KB),  250m (1 MB)   
      Bands Used: 1,4,3   
      Image Credit: MODIS Land Rapid Response Team, NASA GSFC   
      
      
      
   https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/gallery/individual.php?db_date=2022-10-25   
       
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