Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 6th 07, 03:31 AM
NOAA
Washington, D.C.
Media Contact:
John Leslie, NOAA Satellite and Information Service
(301) 713-1265
Jan. 4, 2007
IN RECORD WILDFIRE SEASON, NOAA SATELLITES AID U.S. FIRE MANAGERS
The 2006 wildfire season in the United States set an all-time record with
more than 9.8 million acres burned in more than 96,000 wildfires. NOAA
satellites were key in detecting and monitoring the movement of the blazes,
providing invaluable information to firefighters on the ground.
Throughout the season, NOAA's two geostationary satellites and two
polar-orbiting spacecraft provided more than 200 images each day. The most
hectic stretch of last year's season came between July and September, when
NOAA satellites detected 98,848 hot spots.
"Satellite detection of fires and hotspots provides valuable information
about the location of emerging fire problems," said Heath Hockenberry, the
NOAA National Fire Weather Program leader, located at the National
Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. "This information allows on-site
fire weather forecasters to remain aware of new fire locations and potential
problem areas."
Along with satellite coverage, part of NOAA's operational fire and smoke
program includes the Hazard Mapping System, which detects the wildfires and
tracks the smoke they produce. HMS, which incorporates both NOAA and NASA
satellites, tracks smoke from wildfires occurring throughout all of North
America and pinpoints fires that are emitting the most smoke. HMS overlays
fire locations with satellite imagery, providing analysts on the ground a
high measure of quality control.
"NOAA Incident Meteorologists and fire weather forecasters always need to
know where fires are and how they are developing in complex terrain,"
Hockenberry said. "This information is essential to on-site fire weather
forecast accuracy and usefulness."
"The smoke from these fires can be extremely harmful to air quality, which
is a threat to health and public safety," said Mary E. Kicza, assistant
administrator for the NOAA Satellite and Information Service. "NOAA is
committed to providing the satellite coverage and products needed to help
save lives and property from dangerous fires."
The NOAA National Weather Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the
Environmental Protection Agency and state and local land and air quality
managers use fire and smoke products produced by the NOAA Satellite and
Information Service.
In 2007 NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200
years of science and service to the nation. Starting with the establishment
of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson much of
America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. The agency is dedicated to
enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and
research of weather and climate-related events and information service
delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of
the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal
partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a
global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes,
predicts and protects.
Relevant Web Sites:
* NOAA National Fire Weather Program
http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/
* NOAA Fire Weather Information Center
http://www.noaa.gov/fireweather/
* NOAA Fire Events Satellite Imagery
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/
* NOAA Satellites Portal
http://www.noaa.gov/satellites.html
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/fires-calif-07-12-2006-1415z.jpg
(562KB)]
NOAA satellite image of wildfire in San Bernardino County, Calif., taken
July 12, 2006, at 10:15 a.m. EDT that burned 17,000 acres. Smoke from the
fire extends northeast to southern Nevada and western Utah. Credit: NOAA
Washington, D.C.
Media Contact:
John Leslie, NOAA Satellite and Information Service
(301) 713-1265
Jan. 4, 2007
IN RECORD WILDFIRE SEASON, NOAA SATELLITES AID U.S. FIRE MANAGERS
The 2006 wildfire season in the United States set an all-time record with
more than 9.8 million acres burned in more than 96,000 wildfires. NOAA
satellites were key in detecting and monitoring the movement of the blazes,
providing invaluable information to firefighters on the ground.
Throughout the season, NOAA's two geostationary satellites and two
polar-orbiting spacecraft provided more than 200 images each day. The most
hectic stretch of last year's season came between July and September, when
NOAA satellites detected 98,848 hot spots.
"Satellite detection of fires and hotspots provides valuable information
about the location of emerging fire problems," said Heath Hockenberry, the
NOAA National Fire Weather Program leader, located at the National
Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. "This information allows on-site
fire weather forecasters to remain aware of new fire locations and potential
problem areas."
Along with satellite coverage, part of NOAA's operational fire and smoke
program includes the Hazard Mapping System, which detects the wildfires and
tracks the smoke they produce. HMS, which incorporates both NOAA and NASA
satellites, tracks smoke from wildfires occurring throughout all of North
America and pinpoints fires that are emitting the most smoke. HMS overlays
fire locations with satellite imagery, providing analysts on the ground a
high measure of quality control.
"NOAA Incident Meteorologists and fire weather forecasters always need to
know where fires are and how they are developing in complex terrain,"
Hockenberry said. "This information is essential to on-site fire weather
forecast accuracy and usefulness."
"The smoke from these fires can be extremely harmful to air quality, which
is a threat to health and public safety," said Mary E. Kicza, assistant
administrator for the NOAA Satellite and Information Service. "NOAA is
committed to providing the satellite coverage and products needed to help
save lives and property from dangerous fires."
The NOAA National Weather Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the
Environmental Protection Agency and state and local land and air quality
managers use fire and smoke products produced by the NOAA Satellite and
Information Service.
In 2007 NOAA, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, celebrates 200
years of science and service to the nation. Starting with the establishment
of the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1807 by Thomas Jefferson much of
America's scientific heritage is rooted in NOAA. The agency is dedicated to
enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and
research of weather and climate-related events and information service
delivery for transportation, and by providing environmental stewardship of
the nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth
Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal
partners, more than 60 countries and the European Commission to develop a
global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes,
predicts and protects.
Relevant Web Sites:
* NOAA National Fire Weather Program
http://fire.boi.noaa.gov/
* NOAA Fire Weather Information Center
http://www.noaa.gov/fireweather/
* NOAA Fire Events Satellite Imagery
http://www.osei.noaa.gov/Events/Fires/
* NOAA Satellites Portal
http://www.noaa.gov/satellites.html
IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/images/fires-calif-07-12-2006-1415z.jpg
(562KB)]
NOAA satellite image of wildfire in San Bernardino County, Calif., taken
July 12, 2006, at 10:15 a.m. EDT that burned 17,000 acres. Smoke from the
fire extends northeast to southern Nevada and western Utah. Credit: NOAA