NASA’s Terra satellite collected this natural-color image with the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) aboard on December 23, 2016. This image shows fire activity in Argentina, specifically the areas around Santa Isabel and Valle Daza. The origin of these fires could be either grassland fires caused by a lightning strike or they could also be caused by human activity either accidental or by farmers clearing fields for planting. This type of farming activity is common in this area of the world.
Actively burning areas, detected by MODIS’s thermal bands, are outlined in red. NASA image courtesy Jeff Schmaltz, MODIS Rapid Response Team. Caption: NASA/Goddard, Lynn Jenner