Active fire recognition by the small satellite on Bi-spectral Infrared Detection (BIRD)

Kurzfassung

BIRD is a new experimental small satellite dedicated to recognition and quantitative characterisation of high-temperature events on the Earth surface like vegetation-, peat- and coa seam fires and volcanic activity. BIRD successfully demonstrates innovative fire recognition technology for small satellites that permits to retrieve quantitative fire characteritics, such as the effective fire temperature, fire area, radiative energy release, fire front length and fire front strength. As an example, BIRD observations of bush fires in the area of Canberra, Australia are analysed and compared with MODIS.