Wildfires continue to ravage southern California, prompting evacuations and raising concerns about air quality. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been closely monitoring the situation using its Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series.
On January 9, NOAA’s GOES-18 satellite captured images of the wildfires from space, combining two products: GeoColor and Fire Temperature RGB. The imagery shows thick grayish smoke plumes drifting southwest over California’s Channel Islands.
The fires have prompted the evacuation of approximately 153,000 residents as a precautionary measure to protect them from advancing flames and hazardous conditions.
NOAA satellites play a crucial role in fire detection, mapping, and environmental impact assessment. They provide high-resolution images that detect smoke plumes and heat signatures, identifying active fires. This data supports firefighting efforts and protects public safety.
The GOES-18 satellite is one of NOAA’s essential tools for wildfire monitoring and management. Its data helps pinpoint heat signatures, create detailed maps of burned areas and fire perimeters, and track smoke and pollutants to evaluate air quality and health impacts.
Timely satellite imagery has saved lives in this situation, with the safe evacuation of over 153,000 residents demonstrating the effectiveness of NOAA’s advanced technology and data in empowering local authorities to act swiftly.
Source: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/news/noaa-satellites-monitor-california-wildfires