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Wildfires in Russia continuing

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July 10, 2012

Russian firefighters have been battling wildfires in Russia for months. More than 30 wildfires were burning today (July 10, 2012) in far eastern Russia, according to NASA. Greenpeace says more land in Russia has already burned in 2012 than in 2010, a year that intense wildfires affected western Russia. Here’s an image from NASA’s Terra satellite, of wildfires burning yesterday.

wildfire_Russia_7-9-2012_NASA_Terra — NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of Russian wildfires on July 9, 2012. The red outlines indicate active fires. Image Credit: NASA Terra

Smoke from large wildfires in Siberia is often lofted high enough into the atmosphere that winds push plumes of it across the Pacific Ocean to North America, NASA says. Significant amounts of smoke arrived in British Columbia in Canada this week, according to CBC News.

Bottom line: NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image of wildfires burning in eastern Russia (Siberia) yesterday (July 9, 2012). NASA says more than 30 wildfires are burning in Russia today (July 10).

Deborah Byrd

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Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.