Publié le 22 juillet 2019
Recovering from wildfires
The fertile Pampas, grasslands located in northern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil, are frequently struck by wildfires, both from natural causes, such as lightning, and from man-made control, for agricultural purposes.
Throughout December 2016 and early January 2017, many fires burned over 30,000 km² in the La Pampa and Rio Negro provinces. Several factors, among others strong winds, high temperatures, and dry conditions resulting from the preceding winter and spring seasons contributed to the devastation. Rain in late December helped firefighters regain control, while a few hot spots persisted in early January.
This PROBA-V animation clearly show the pampas recovering from these wildfires. The first image, captured on 6 January 2017, shows the burnt areas as brown/blackish patches, while some of the wildfires’ smoke plumes are visible in light-blue. The PROBA-V 100 m image of 24 July 2017 visualizes the Pampas' recovery.