Photo credit: www.nasa.gov
NASA’s Innovative Approach to Understanding Wildfires with c-FIRST
In January, California faced significant wildfires that dramatically impacted local ecosystems and communities. In response to these disasters, NASA researchers have been actively working to enhance our understanding of wildfire dynamics through the deployment of new technology.
The focus of this effort is the Compact Fire Infrared Radiance Spectral Tracker (c-FIRST), which was rigorously tested aboard NASA’s B200 King Air aircraft. This aircraft, based at the Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, provided a unique platform for c-FIRST to gather data over the wildfires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, California. Its compact size allows it to efficiently replicate a satellite-like mission, making it an ideal test environment.
Developed under the management of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), c-FIRST is designed to capture high-resolution thermal infrared images and gather critical data about the terrain affected by wildfires. It can assess a wide range of temperatures across vast wildfire areas while also capturing data on cooler, unburned regions, potentially enhancing the quality and quantity of scientific information obtained.
According to Sarath Gunapala, c-FIRST’s principal investigator at JPL, existing instruments have not been able to comprehensively cover all fire-related attributes within Earth’s systems. This limitation has contributed to a lack of understanding regarding the frequency and key characteristics of wildfires, such as their size and temperature.
The challenge of obtaining clear infrared images at temperatures exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (550 degrees Celsius) has historically hindered effective wildfire research. Issues such as blurry resolution and saturation have made it difficult for scientists to analyze hot terrains adequately, thereby limiting their ability to assess the comprehensive ecological impacts of wildfires.
To combat these challenges, NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office has backed the development of c-FIRST, which integrates advanced imaging capabilities with a streamlined design. When airborne, c-FIRST enables scientists to detect smoldering fires more rapidly and accurately while collecting vital information on active blazes in real-time.
Gunapala emphasized the significance of this capability, stating, “These smoldering fires can flare up again in heavy winds. The data collected by c-FIRST could be crucial for firefighting agencies to respond more efficiently.”
The capabilities of c-FIRST extend beyond immediate firefighting. Data gathered can assist scientists in evaluating the probability of fire spread across various terrains, which in turn supports better monitoring of smoldering hotspots and tracking fire evolution. This information is paramount for understanding how ecosystems recover following fire events.
Operational requirements for c-FIRST perfectly align with the performance specifications of the B200 King Air, as noted by KC Sujan, the operations engineer for the aircraft. The seamless integration of c-FIRST onto the King Air was essential, as it allowed for optimal flight speed, communication, navigation systems, and power requirements tailored to the aircraft’s capabilities.
Initial testing aboard the B200 King Air will pave the way for future satellite missions that focus on wildfire investigation. As wildfires become more prevalent due to climate change, instruments like c-FIRST will be invaluable in aiding firefighting strategies and informing our understanding of the broader ecological consequences of extreme weather phenomena.
Source
www.nasa.gov