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Pacific Southwest Research Station
800 Buchanan Street
West Annex Building
Albany, CA 94710-0011

(510) 559-6300
United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service. USDA logo which links to the department's national site. Forest Service logo which links to the agency's national site.

Research Topics

Fire Science: Imaging

^ Main Topic | CRAFT | Imaging | Forecasting Fire Weather | Managing Fire and Fuels | Masticated Fuel | Social Aspects of Fire

Wolf Fire, Los Padres National Forest (June 6-12, 2002):
As viewed by the FireMapper Thermal-imaging Radiometer aboard the Pacific Southwest Research Station's Airborne Sciences Aircraft
Images were collected and disseminated in part by satellite communications in near-real time from the PSW Airborne Sciences Aircraft. Shown is energy emitted from the ground as measured at thermal-infrared wavelengths by the PSW FireMapper system. Bright areas are very hot ground associated with active fire fronts. Images have been geographically referenced and are depicted on USGS 7.5-minute quadrangles, 1:100,000-scale topographic maps or on a digital elevation model derived from the Space Shuttle topographic mapping mission.

Wolf Fire, as viewed from above at 11.9 micrometers wavelength on 7 June 2002

Topographic view from SE of above image, with the hotter areas colored red-orange

Color-coded surface temperatures associated with active or recent burning in the Wolf Fire, 6 June 2002.

Residual burning and spot fires at the Wolf Fire, 12 June 2002

Light gray tones are areas of ash warmed by solar heating. Dark gray tones are unburned vegetation. Red, orange, and yellow regions are residual burning. Latitude and longitude of hot spots may be obtained by opening the TIFF file in a suitable viewer such as Erdas Imagine. Postfire ash-surface temperatures may be indicative of the severity of burning.

Topographic view of above image, with the hotter areas colored red-orange

After downloading a TIFF as a zip file, decompress it with WinZip (or your favorite ZIP utility) and the TIFF will be viewable in WangIMG or other graphics viewer. Included are the auxiliary files necessary for proper geo-referencing (if the viewer has that capability).

Check here to download the FREE ERDAS Viewfinder viewer.
(12 MB download; you must register before downloading).

Monitored Incidents:
For Further Information:

Please contact Dr. Philip J. Riggan at this link.