An overview of GOES‐8 diurnal fire and smoke results for SCAR‐B and 1995 fire season in South America

Abstract

The launch of the eighth Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES‐8) in 1994 introduced an improved capability for diurnal fire and smoke monitoring throughout the western hemisphere. In South America the GOES‐8 automated biomass burning algorithm (ABBA) and the automated smoke/aerosol detection algorithm (ASADA) are being used to monitor biomass burning. This paper outlines GOES‐8 ABBA and ASADA development activities and summarizes results for the Smoke, Clouds, and Radiation in Brazil (SCAR‐B) experiment and the 1995 fire season. GOES‐8 ABBA results document the diurnal, spatial, and seasonal variability in fire activity throughout South America. A validation exercise compares GOES‐8 ABBA results with ground truth measurements for two SCAR‐B prescribed burns. GOES‐8 ASADA aerosol coverage and derived albedo results provide an overview of the extent of daily and seasonal smoke coverage and relative intensities. Day‐to‐day variability in smoke extent closely tracks fluctuations in fire activity.