Using GOES Imagery to Identify Wildfires
In this enhanced animation of Reflectivity Product images, the recurrent bright yellow signatures represent hotter, or wider-spread, fires. This product is derived by subtracting the equivalent radiance at 3.9 µm (using the longwave IR Channel 4 temperature) from the 3.9 µm Channel 2 radiance, and scaling the results. Without enhancement, the fires stand out as white spots, due to the higher response to changes in scene temperature at the 3.9 µm wavelength compared to that at 10.7 µm. GOES-8 imagery sequences, with their 15 minute or better frequency, can be used to ascertain where the fires are located by the persistence of the bright spots and highly reflective clouds and noise can easily be eliminated.
Note: Allow the loop to cycle once or twice to get up to speed.
