New satellite sensor to observe wildfires

The Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a new tool for mapping wildfires burning. It is carried by the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite (S-NPP), and it is a very sensitive tool that can detect wildfires in the middle of the night using its “day-night-band”. Until now, Terra and Aqua satellites were the instruments employed for observing fire.