Evaluation of Fire Observations in the Decadal Reprocessed NOAA JPSS VIIRS Active Fire Data Record

In this presentation we report on a detailed analysis of fire detection and fire radiative power (FRP) data in the Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 reprocessed Enterprise Fire (EFire) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer (VIIRS) 375m I-band data record. This data record, available for 2012-2022 Suomi NPP and 2018-2022 for NOAA-20, provides an opportunity to evaluate algorithm performance for a wide range of observing and environmental conditions. First, we analyze the input reprocessed Sensor Data Record (SDR) data to evaluate any long-term trends and seasonal variations in the radiative signal from fire hot spots, such as the statistical properties of critical band radiometric measurements and the rate of occurrence for sensor saturation. Similarly, spatial and temporal patterns in the internal cloud mask are analyzed to characterize potential cloud exclusion in the fire mask. Results of the analysis of input and internal intermediate data are then related to trends and spatio-temporal patterns of fire detections and FRP data in the reprocessed fire dataset. We identify complex observing and environmental conditions (e.g., noise in the input SDR data, cloud cover, heavy smoke, and off-nadir view) and evaluate the corresponding algorithm performance. Results from this analysis performed separately for Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 during the overlap period are compared to evaluate compatibility of observations and to identify any residual intersatellite adjustment issues.