An Analysis of the MODIS Fire and Thermal Anomalies Based on the MT-ID Airshed Management System

With the advent of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite-based sensor in 2001, the reliability of satellite-based global biomass burning detection and characterization has improved markedly. Through refinements based upon previous efforts at satellite based fire detection, MODIS was the first sensor that was designed in part with the purpose of fire detection and characterization. Given that global biomass burning may have a substantial impact on the both the immediate landscape and on global atmospheric chemistry, improvements in the ability to assess MODIS fire data are needed.  Most of the previous MODIS Fire and Thermal Anomalies (MOD14) validation studies have focused on fairly large fires.  Much of the global biomass burning, though, consists of fires that are smaller than the nominal one square kilometer MOD14 pixel. When these relatively small fires are considered cumulatively, their effects on the landscape and the atmosphere may be substantial. 

The National Center for Landscape Fire Analysis' Montana/Idaho Airshed Management System (AMS) chronicles prescribed fire occurrences in Montana and Idaho.  By virtue of the number and the completeness of the records in the AMS, there is a unique opportunity to test the performance of MOD14 on relatively small fires. Using data from 7,400 prescribed fire events during March, April, May, September, October, and November of 2003 and 2004, the sensitivity of MOD14 fire detections are examined.

Principal Investigator: Nat Johnson