Smoke visibility with VIIRS

Whitewater - Baldy Complex Fire, New Mexico, 29 May 2012

Curtis Seaman

20:23 UTC 29 May 2012M-01 (0.412 μm)

20:23 UTC 29 May 2012M-02 (0.445 μm)

20:23 UTC 29 May 2012M-03 (0.488 μm) BLUE

20:23 UTC 29 May 2012M-04 (0.555 μm) GREEN

20:23 UTC 29 May 2012M-05 (0.672 μm) RED

Summary

• Smoke plume is arguably the most noticeable in channel M-02 – the smoke may be brighter in M-01, but so is the

surface – meaning less contrast– Smoke much more visible in channel M-03 (blue

band) than in M-05 (red band)• Smoke plume is almost invisible in M-05 over

West Texas