Sun setting through cloud and smoke haze from huge fire the previous evening.

In the late afternoon on Friday 4th September, an amazing photograph was captured of the setting Sun with Sunspot (top) descending through cloud and smoke-haze from the previous evening’s huge fire on Murahwa Mountain to the west of Mutare (bottom). Such widespread smoke-haze from the burning of vegetation does not usually occur until later in the dry season (October) when there is folk belief that burning will hasten the approach of the rainy season. If, as is being predicted, we are heading for a record-breaking El-Nino with severe regional drought in Southern Africa, this early environmental degradation will compound the negative effects of the anticipated climate change.

Tripod-mounted Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ60 in sunset mode.

Composite of images taken at 5.15 pm on 4th (top) and 8.34 pm on 3rd September (bottom).