EnvirocastTM TV for Thursday, August 7, 2003

Fires in Portugal

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This false color image was from the MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard NASA's Aqua satellite.  It shows fires, smoke, and burn scars across Portugal on August 3, 2003.

True-color images on your right show how wildfires evolve from August 3 to 6 in Portugal.

This animation shows how you can use the images to the right in your weathercast to show the evolution of the fires.  Save each of the still images at the appropriate resolution for your system (either 720x486 or 640x480) and dissolve from one to another in sequence to achieve the above effect.

Environmental Impacts:

  • Firefighters in Portugal said today that they had gained control of fires which have ravaged the country over the past week, killing 14 people and destroying 100,000 hectares (248,000 acres) of woodland, but they had to remain on high alert for flare-ups as a heatwave continues across much of Europe.

  • A severe European heatwave, with temperatures up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), the high temperatures have stoked forest fires from Poland to the Iberian Peninsula in Europe.
     

  • According to Portuguese National Rescue Operation Centre, more than 2,000 firefighters, aided by 800 soldiers, were working to extinguish fires or were patrolling forests for signs of new blazes.

  • The provisional total includes the destruction of 20,000 hectares (49,420 acres) of cork trees. Portugal is the world's biggest producer of cork, with exports worth 880 million euros (one billion dollars) annually.

  • Lisbon, which has declared the fires a national disaster, is seeking financial aid from the European Union. European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, Anna Diamantopoulou, is scheduled to visit Portugal this Firday to inspect the fire damage.

  • Europe's heatwave does raise global warming concerns. Though there was no clear evidence putting the blame on global warming and greenhouse gas production, scientists at the World Meteorological Office pointed out that the world's 10 hottest recorded years had all taken place since 1987.
Image NTSC 720x486 030807_02_tva.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 6, 2003.
Image NTSC 720x486 030807_03_tva.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 5, 2003.
mage NTSC 720x486 030807_04_tva.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 4, 2003.
Image NTSC 720x486 030807_05_tva.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 3, 2003.
Image NTSC 640x480 030807_02_tvb.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 6, 2003.
Image NTSC 640x480 030807_03_tvb.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 5, 2003.
Image NTSC 640x480 030807_04_tvb.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 4, 2003.
Image NTSC 640x480 030807_05_tvb.jpg shows fires in Portugal on August 3, 2003.

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