Detection and growth of an Alaskan forest fire using GOES-9 3.9 mu m imagery

The utility of the new GOES-9 satellite 3.9 mum channel to monitor wildfire s and their subsequent changes in growth and intensity in Alaska is examine d. 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 th e 3.9 mum 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 fir e management on wildfires in high latitudes to at least 61 degrees N. In th e case of Miller's Reach, the fire was detected when it was less than 200 h ectares in size. Changes in fire growth and intensity were also observed. A n automated technique for decision makers which classifies hot spots withou t requiring image interpretation is proposed.