Striking image captures oil depot fire smoke

The explosion and subsequent blaze at the oil depot near Hemel Hempstead in December last year produced a massive smoke cloud that spread over much of the South East. This striking image, which shows the extent of the black smoke cloud, was taken by the Natural Environment Research Council's Satellite Receiving Station, which is part of the University's Space Technology Centre.

The image was used by multiple news organisations in the days after the fire as discussion about smoke damage and recovery occupied the media. The image dominated the front page of The Guardian on 13 December and was also used by The Courier, ABC News, BBC News On-line, BBC TV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

The NERC Satellite Receiving Station has been systematically recording satellite images on a daily basis since 1978 and keeps an archive of all images taken by four different satellites orbiting the earth. For further information and images see www.sat.dundee.ac.uk