The MODIS, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, instrument on the Terra satellite captured this image of multiple fires and smoke burning in Kazakhstan on July 27, 2017.
Actively burning areas are outlined in red. When they are accompanied by smoke, as in this image, they are indicative of fire. Also the dark reddish mark that appears on the landscape is indicative of past fire activity, scorched earth. In Kazakhstan the dry hot summer begins in the end of May and lasts till mid September, with temperatures sometimes going up to 95F – 104F. The fires captured in this Terra image may well have been started by lightning from heat storms or they also may be intentional agricultural fires set by people to prepare for the upcoming growing season.
NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner