As the climate warms, extreme wildfires are becoming more common.
But scientists are now using data gathered by NASA’s Earth observation satellites to help keep people safe.
Hawkins: “Earth observations are extremely valuable in detecting and observing and managing wildfires.”
Michelle Hawkins works on climate resilience with NASA.
Before a fire even sparks, satellites can pinpoint places with a lot of flammable material like dry vegetation.
Land managers can then use that data to plan prescribed burns that reduce the risk of a fire growing out of control.
When a wildfire does occur, satellites can also help officials understand how big the blaze is and how it’s spreading so agencies can provide real-time safety alerts.
Hawkins: “We have imagery and data and information that can show the fire perimeter so that emergency managers can provide updates to evacuation orders, for example.”
And after a wildfire ends, satellites can spot places at a high risk for landslides, which can occur in recently burned areas.
So even as the risk of wildfires increases on a warming planet, these eyes in the sky can provide the data officials need to keep people out of harm’s way.
Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media
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