Summary
This last chapter of the CAL module showed you how to detect and monitor forest fires using various remote sensing techniques.
Satellite images and their interpretation played a major role. The MSG satellites have shown us that the IR3.9 channel is suited for detecting forest fires. We looked at the reasons why this channel it suited for detecting hot spots (such as temperature responsivity and sub-pixel response). It is also possible to detect smaller scale phenomena such as smoke by combining this channel with the HRVIS. We also saw a range of high-resolution examples from the MODIS instruments onboard the TERRA and AQUA satellites, whichprovided a spectacular view of the fires.
We also found that products from the OMI (Ozone Monitoring Instrument) could reveal the presence of NO2 and formaldehyde in the smoke. A 2007 case study of Greece showed how this plume of smoke swirled over the Mediterranean and into Libya. Another second case study of Portugal showed that monitoring the smoke is also possible with meteorological radar.
The chapter closed with the difficulties of detecting burnt areas with both polar and geostationary satellites. The shadows of clouds are often mistakenly identified as burnt areas. Some examples from Modis concluded the chapter.