Combined digital data from multiple satellites and Doppler radar can provide fire weather meteorologists and resource managers with accurate information on forest fire location, intensity, growth, smoke plumes, and associated mesoscale weather. An integrated application using real-time satellite and radar is described for the Miller's Reach forest fire that occurred in south-central Alaska in June 1996. Generated data and products were made available immediately on-scene via point-to-point high-speed portable satellite communications. This fire consumed over 15 000 ha and destroyed 344 structures.
The utility of the new GOES-9 satellite 3.9 µm channel to monitor
wildfires and their subsequent changes in growth and intensity in Alaska is
examined. The June, 1996 Miller’s Reach forest fire is presented as a
case study. Eighteen hours of sequential imagery coincident to the initiation
and early stages of the fire are analyzed for hot spots. The dramatic response
of the 3.9 µm channel to sub-pixel hot spots and the ability to access
the data every 15 minutes makes the channel an effective tool to support
forest fire management on wildfires in high latitudes to at least 61°N. In
the case of Miller’s Reach, the fire was detected when it was less than
200 hectares in size. Changes in fire growth and intensity were also observed.
An automated technique for decision makers which classifies hot spots without
requiring image interpretation is proposed.
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