The image above was produced by using remotely sensed MODIS data. It shows the actively burning fires during the past 24 hours (data obtained March 4, 2011) over Northern Africa. Because fires release high amounts of radiation in the infrared spectrum they can be detected through different remote sensing techniques. North Africa is renowned for its relatively high fire activity. The implications due to aerosols and other outputs of these fires is currently being researched.
Data can be obtained through FIRMS:
http://maps.geog.umd.edu/firms/kml.htm#northernafrica
FIRMS is operated through the University of Maryland and is extremely helpful with obtaining a variety of different fire data products. I used some of their fire point data for research that I did over last summer with sugarcane and marsh fire activity in southern Louisiana!
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