Airborne infrared observations of extreme wildfires in California 2022

Extreme wildfires are one of the most destructive natural phenomena in our world. Modeling of these fires is challenging due to large uncertainties in model parameters as well as initial and boundary conditions. High-resolution observations of fire behavior can be used to reduce modeling uncertainties. However, adequate observational systems and methods are scarce.

We will present airborne based mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) imagery with high spatial and temporal resolution of extreme fires that occurred in California around September 2022. This data was captured using the SJSU Wildfire Imaging Suite during the California Fire Dynamics Experiment (CalFiDE) campaign together with meteorological data both from ground-based and airborne instruments.

We will show a comparison of our airborne observations with the infrared spectral imagery captured by the spaceborne MODIS and VIIRS instruments during the campaign. The cross-platform comparison will address the spatial extent of the fire as well as the differences in the registered radiance values. 

This rich dataset, including more than 400 overpasses over multiple days and multiple extreme fires, provides a unique detailed view of the active wildfire behavior during these fire events. 

Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation under award number 2053619, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the CalFiDE campaign, and the EU COST Action NERO (CA22164).