Q: What browsers does Firecast support?
Firecast is supported by the most current versions of Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Google Chrome. Other browsers may work but have not been tested for support.
Q: I did subscribe, but I am not receiving emails.
Sometimes, your e-mail client flags some messages as SPAM, and these messages are automatically filtered out of your inbox. Add us to your secure e-mail list to avoid that problem.
Q: Who provides the active fire data for Firecast?
The active fire data is provided by NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS)
Q: How does MODIS detect fires?
A hotspot/fire is detected by MODIS using data from the middle infrared and thermal infrared bands. These detections are produced using the same algorithm as the standard MODIS MOD14 fire and thermal anomalies product. The algorithm examines each pixel of the MODIS swath, and ultimately assigns to each one of the following classes: missing data, cloud, water, non-fire, fire, or unknown. In most cases, this thermal anomaly is a fire, but sometimes it is a volcanic eruption or the flare from a gas well. We have no way of knowing which it is based on the MODIS data alone.
Q: What size fires can be detected?
Under ideal conditions the smallest flaming fire that can be routinely detected (i.e. near 100% probability of detection) is approximately 50 square meters in size. These are conditions such as when a fire is observed at (or near) nadir on a fairly homogeneous surface, no other significant fires are nearby, and the scene is free of clouds, heavy smoke and sun glint. In any given scene the minimum detectable fire size is a function of many different variables (scan angle, biome, sun position, land surface temperature, cloud cover, amount of smoke, wind direction, etc.), so the precise value will vary slightly with these conditions.
Q: What is the delay from the time the satellite passes until an alert is emailed?
The delay is approximately 4 hours or less. Firecast receives data from LANCE every 30 minutes.
Q: What does each of the columns in the text file from the active fire emails mean?
Feature - area of interest (for example, district name, protected area name, etc.)
Latitude - the north or south location on the earth measured in decimal degrees
Longitude - the east or west location of the point on the earth measured in decimal degrees
Date - date the fire was detected
Time - time the satellite passed over the location, provided in UTC
Satellite - platform that observed fire, there are two MODIS instruments - Aqua and Terra. For more information on these platforms, see the information on MODIS in the first question.
Confidence - The confidence value is based on a collection of intermediate algorithm quantities used in the detection process. The range of confidence is expressed between 0-100 (the values range from 0=very low to 100=very high). The confidence field is experimental and should be used with caution; it is likely that it will vary in meaning in different parts of the world. In general, the product developers consider < 30% as low confidence, 31-79% as nominal confidence, and 80-100% as high confidence. (https://modis-fire.umd.edu/files/MODIS_C6_Fire_User_Guide_B.pdf)
Q: Where can I get additional FAQ resources on MODIS fire detection products?
For more FAQ related specifically to active fire data please see the FIRMS’ FAQ page.
Q: Who provides the fire season severity forecasts for Firecast?
The fire season severity forecasts are a result of a collaboration between University of California, Irvine, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Columbia University, University of Maryland, and Duke University. The work is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation through Grant GBMF3269 and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The data can be accessed directly here.
Q: How do I interpret the radial dials for the fire season severity forecasts?
The fire season severity index ranges from 1-100. Green indicates below average predictions of fire activity whereas orange and red indication above average activity. The line between green and orange represents the long-term average of fire activity from 2001 to present. In the Firecast system we label green as LOW, orange as MEDIUM, and red as HIGH fire season severity. The number as the bottom of the dial indicates the percentile of this year’s risk relative to the long term mean.
Q: Will you provide fire season severity forecasts for other countries?
Significant modeling and validation are required to provide these forecast to new countries such as Madagascar and Indonesia. Such expansion would be dependent on future research grants.
