Satellite Fire Datasets
This page summarizes the observation layer that supports the wildfire scaling program.
Why datasets matter here
The scaling questions in this repository depend on time-resolved, spatially explicit observations of fire activity. That means burned-area and active-fire products are not just supporting data; they determine what kinds of geometric measurements are even possible.
Core dataset families
- MODIS burned area products, especially
MCD64A1 - VIIRS active fire detections
- FireCCI burned-area products
- MTBS for U.S. burn severity and event characterization
- event-reconstructed products such as the Global Fire Atlas and
FIRED
What each dataset contributes
- burned-area grids provide event footprints and progression timing
- active-fire detections provide higher-frequency fire activity indicators
- event-reconstructed products make fire trajectories analytically tractable
- regional products help with validation and context
Relationship to the literature
The working bibliography in the repository already includes several of the key data references. See Literature for the current bibliography and thematic map.