THE RECENT AND FUTURE CHANGES OF THE HAZARD MAPPING SYSTEM (HMS)-A MULTIPLATFORM REMOTE SENSING APPROACH TO FIRE AND SMOKE DETECTION

The Hazard Mapping System (HMS) is a multiplatform remote sensing approach to detecting fires and smoke over the US (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico and Central America. This system is an integral part of the Satellite Services Division's near realtime hazards detection and mitigation efforts. The system utilizes NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES), Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on NASA's Terra and Aqua spacecraft and the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Operational Linescan System (OLS) sensor, (F14 and F15). Automated detection algorithms are employed for each of the satellites (except DMSP OLS) for the fire detects while smoke is annotated by a satellite analyst. Fire detects can also be added by the satellite analyst. Analysts also provide locations of significant smoke producing fires as input to the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model that is run daily in an experimental mode to provide guidance on smoke trajectories and dispersion over the US. Major customers for the HMS include the National Weather Service, US Forest Service, Environmental Protection Agency, research science teams, as well as numerous federal, state and local land and air quality managers.

In 2004 the HMS was upgraded in a number of ways for customers and users. The adding of the Canadian and Central American sectors for hotspot and smoke detection was the first major change. These sectors can be easily turned off or on depending on their respective burning seasons or if a special event should arise. Vegetation type and water overlays were added to aid in the decision to add or delete a fire point. Water sources may cause false detects due to low sun zenith angles during sunrise and sunset or due to temperature contrast between land and water at night. This overlay aides in quickly finding these false detects. Vegetation overlays enable the analyst by showing what type of land is present near the hotspot in question. Stable lights were another addition. It is a static product that identifies stable sources of light from the OLS sensor and is usually associated with urban areas. This capability can assist the analyst by screening out heat sources where stable lights are present. These were just a few of the most recent changes in the HMS.

The SSD fire team is currently assessing the feasibility of a descriptive smoke text product and would also like to incorporate additional datasets for the monitoring of fires, smoke, and dust. A comparison of the HYSPLIT forecast is planned using satellite based observations of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) from GOES and MODIS sensors. These are just some of the upgrades and goals for the upcoming year.

All of the analyzed fire and smoke information is posted to a web page (http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/FIRE/) for viewing in either graphical static jpg format or via a Geographic Information System (GIS) viewer. The GIS page allows for the display of multiple layers with roam and zoom capabilities. There is also an active archive site at www.ngdc.noaa.gov/website/firedetects/viewer.htm