Brazilian Deforestation
| This is a close-up view of deforestation in the state of Rondonia, Brazil. The dark green areas are Amazon rainforest and the light green areas are cleared lands. The main transportation route extends the length of this scene and secondary roads extend out roughly perpendicular from it and parallel to one anouther. The brighter area just right of center is a city located at an intersection of two main roads. Two smoke plumes rise where clearing of the land by slash-and-burn methods is taking place. Active deforestation occurs as clearing proceeds from the secondary roads into the rainforest. Eventually, plots from adjacent roads merge, and no rainforest will separate them. The relatively small plots of land being cleared in this manner produce a herringbone pattern. Observations of Rondonia over time show that significant amounts of land have been cleared in a matter of years. This image was taken on shuttle flight STS-46. |
Credit: Courtesy Kam Lulla, JSC. For more images of this type, see the "Human Imprints from Space" slide set (Gwynn, Wilkinson, and Lulla; Lunar and Planetary Institute #989)
For more info: http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/iams/images/earth/STS046/html/10084534.htm