NASA: Smoke from Australia wildfires will circle the Earth

NASA is using satellites to track the smoke from Australia’s wildfire as it circumnavigates the globe.

The long plume of smoke has crossed the Pacific and South America and is making its way back to Australia - forming a halo around the Earth.

"The smoke is expected to make at least one full circuit around the globe," the US space agency said. App users click here to see the NASA video.

At least 130 wildfires have burned more than 5.2 million acres since September destroying 2,000 homes, and killing 28 people.

NASA reports that the unprecedented hot, dry conditions and smoke have formed a large number of pyrocumulonimbus events - or thunderstorms without precipitation that still produce lightning.

Those storms are sending the smoke into the Earth’s lower stratosphere, nearly 11 miles above sea level, where it can travel thousands of miles from its source according to NASA.

In Australia, the air quality has been greatly affected due to the smoke.

Melbourne residents, today were under a second consecutive day of "hazardous" air quality. ,

There is some good news however, cooler conditions in recent days and forecast rain have aided firefighting efforts.