Usage of the VIIRS Day–Night Band and Other Channels in Disaster Response and Monitoring

In the last several years, next generation of weather satellites, such as GOES-16 and NOAA-20, have operational, providing higher temporal and higher spatial resolution products. In addition, the next generation of United States polar satellites have unique channels, such as the Day Night Band (DNB) continues to expand the range possibilities for characterizing the nocturnal environment. The DNB allows for both daytime visible imagery as well as the unique ability to detect low-levels of visible and near-infrared light at night.

Over the past several years, products and imagery from the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program have become critical to Federal, State, and local agencies as they have responded to natural disasters. As an example, imagery from the DNB was used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency as well as other agencies to observe where power outages were present in order to help direct resources. It was also used by both other US and international agencies for disaster response. This further expands the uses in the operational community of the unique channel onboard NOAA-20 and SNPP. In addition, because NOAA-20 and SNPP are a half an orbit apart, this has allowed for the ability to observe nighttime features twice each day, allowing one to observe the features which may be obscured from the previous pass. Finally, the

In this presentation we will demonstrate the unique uses the DNB both alone and in combination with other channels have been used response to various natural and man-made disasters, both in the United States and internationally, over the last several years as well as a discussion the future uses of the Day Night Band by NOAA for disaster response.