Home Topics Science & Environment Satellite image of Adelaide fires

Satellite image of Adelaide fires

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of smoke from the Adelaide Hills fire. Image credit: NASA image from LANCE/EOSDIS Rapid Response

THE MASSIVE BUSHFIRES that ravaged the Adelaide Hills were captured by a NASA satellite. 

The image from the Terra satellite on 3 January shows smoke billowing below some high clouds. The body of water to the left of the Gulf St Vincent.

The fires, which began at Sampson Flat on 2 January and raged for six days, destroyed or badly damaged 27 homes and 125 other structures such as farm sheds. The town of Kersbrook in the Adelaide Hills was the worst hit after 12 homes were razed by the fire.

More than 12,500ha of land was incenerated by the bushfire, and more than 7000 homes are still without power.

Read Next

Using cane toads to destroy cane toads: how ‘Peter Pan’ tadpoles are keeping these pests from ever growing up

Researchers from Sydney's Macquarie University have discovered cane toad tadpoles are cannibalistic and can help stop the spread of their fellow toads if they remain in their pre-metamorphosis state.

The mysterious scar found in the Australian outback using Google Earth

A man scouring Google Earth found a mysterious scar in the Australian outback – and now scientists know what caused it.

Troubled waters: Australia's freshwater fish are facing extinction

How can we stop Australia's freshwater fish species from going extinct?