[SSD Logo (new)]

[eruption icon]

Satellite Analysis Branch
Case Studies and Examples


Analysis of Northen California Fires Using GOES-10 Imagery.

On October 16, 1999 meteorologists at the Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB) of the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service (NESDIS) observed the rapid growth of several fires from 3,000 to 15,000 acres in one afternoon located in northern California. Using specially derived infrared satellite imagery along with the standard Visible channel on the GOES-10 spacecraft, the analysts were able to pinpoint area of rapid fire growth during the daylight hours of October 16, 1999.

Below, you will find the actual images used to determine the fire locations and size.

GOES-10 Derived Infrared Ch. 2 (3.9 um) - Ch. 4 (10.9 um)
09:30 UTC Image 10/16/99 17:30 UTC Image 10/16/99
09:30 UTC GOES-10 Derived IR Reflectivity Image 17:30 UTC GOES-10 Derived IR Reflectivity Image
Note the dramatic increase in "hotspots" from the 09:30 UTC to the 17:30 UTC image.
View the loop (AVI) from 0800Z to 1730Z of these images.

GOES-10 Visible image from 16:30 UTC showing the plumes of dense smoke.
 Surface Plot at 1700Z for the same area (Note the extremely low dewpoints and 20 KT winds at Redding KRDD).
16:30 UTC GOES-10 Visible Image 1700Z surface Plot
View the loop (AVI) from 1500Z to 1630Z of the visible channel.

SAB Experimental Fire Analysis 10/16/99 Visible "zoomed in" Image Relief Map
Credit: USGS		 Map of the 1200Z Upper Air Analysis
Credit: Unisys
10/16/99 SAB Fire Analysis 16:30 UTC Visible Zoomed Northern CA Relief Map from USGS 12Z Upper Air Analysis
Note the smoke in the valleys of the Salmon Mountains in northeast Humboldt County .View an Animated GIF of the Visible Image and Relief Map to compare. Mt. Shasta, the white "dot" in the upper right in the Visible image, may be off from the Relief Map slightly due to the parallax correction. Also, note the 1200Z conditions (sharp 850 Mb ridge and extremely low RH over northern California) as seen in the last image.

Supplemental Data

Disclaimer: This server and data are not considered "operational." We do not guarantee availability or timely delivery of data and the server should not be used to support operational observation, forecasting, emergency, or disaster mitigation operations, either public or private.
DOC NOAA NESDIS OSDPD

Non Frame URL: http://hpsab8.wwb.noaa.gov/SAB/SAMPLES/FIRES/CA991016/cafires1016.html

Webmaster@ssdnotes.wwb.noaa.gov
Last revised:17 October 1999
Page designed and maintained by Brian Hughes