Active fire data from Suomi NPP VIIRS to serve end user applications

The Active Fire data product suite from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) sensor on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite has reached maturity to allow for operational use of the information for various end user applications. This was achieved primarily by incremental improvements in the quality of the input VIIRS Sensor Data Record (SDR) data for thermal anomalies. The product generated by the Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS) is expected to be declared operational by NOAA and to be incorporated into NOAA's multi-sensor Hazard Mapping System in August 2014. These fire detections are used as input to the National Weather Service operational smoke forecast model, HYSPLIT (HYbrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory), which provides daily 48-hr smoke forecast guidance nationwide. VIIRS Fire hotspots are also used in NOAA's IDEA (Infusing satellite Data into Environmental Applications) system for air quality monitoring and forecasting applications. Preparations for the improved NOAA operational VIIRS fire product, which included Fire Radiative Power (FRP) and the production of a spatially explicit fire mask, are underway. The processing code developed within NASA's Land Product Evaluation and Analysis Tools Element (Land PEATE) is being transitioned into the NOAA operational framework. The product development team has been working with US operational fire management community via proving ground activities that address the specifics of using VIIRS fire observations to support on-site operations, decision making, and smoke monitoring and prediction. The primary platforms for engaging the international user community are coordination by the Global Observation of Forest and Land Cover Dynamics (GOFC-GOLD) Fire Mapping and Monitoring initiative and collaboration with the direct broadcast development and outreach efforts.