Satellite images reveal vast scale of Hoge Venen wildfire

Satellite imagery from the European Copernicus program starkly illustrates the devastating impact of the recent wildfire in the Hoge Venen nature reserve. The images, taken before and after the blaze, show that over 3,000 hectares of land have been reduced to a blackened landscape.

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Sentinel-2 passes regularly over Belgium, allowing for frequent updates, on average every 5 days.

While the fire is now largely under control, pockets of intense burning remain, highlighting the ongoing challenges firefighters face. The European Union's Earth observation program, Copernicus, plays a crucial role in monitoring such events. Its Sentinel-2 satellite passes over Belgium approximately every five days, providing frequent updates.

Inge Jonckheere, head of Green Solutions at the European Space Agency (ESA), explained that while cloud cover can sometimes obscure standard visible light images, infrared data offers a clearer picture. "Infrared waves are longer and can penetrate water vapor and the like," said seismologist Koen Van Noten, who also uses Copernicus data. "The waves are sent by the satellite, reflect off the Earth, and the satellite picks them up again."

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Infrared waves are longer and can penetrate water vapor and the like. The waves are sent by the satellite, reflect off the Earth, and the satellite picks them up again.

This infrared technology allowed researchers to see the extent of the damage even through smoke and clouds. An image from August 16 clearly shows the affected area, marked by dark blue and gray colors, stretching for several kilometers. Active fires were also visible on the northeastern side of the blaze. By combining information from various captures, researchers can piece together a comprehensive view of the situation on the ground.

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On that image, we see that the affected area (dark blue and gray colors) already extends over several kilometers at that time. The active fires on the northeastern side are also clearly visible.