Take a look at this Halo 2 screenshot. (Not that you already haven't)
http://www.bungie.net/images/site/halo/desktops/halo2_wallpaper/h2earth_1280.jpg
Myself and a friend were discussing whether Earth may have been devistated, or if there are just large amounts of cityscape stretched across the entire planet. Obviously the latter is correct, but what about the large, almost volcanic looking glows?
Has Earth undergone an attack by the Covenant, or do people in the future just like lots of big overwhelming lights?
Discuss!