Harnessing Satellite Technology to Combat Future Wildfires

Harnessing Satellite Technology to Combat Future Wildfires

Sub : Sci

Sec : Space sector

Why in News

• The increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires, driven by climate change, is prompting global efforts to leverage satellite technology for early detection, monitoring, and mitigation of wildfire risks.

Role of Satellites in Monitoring Wildfires: Satellites are capable of identifying:

• Dry areas prone to wildfires.
• Actively flaming and smouldering fires.
• Burnt areas and emissions of smoke and trace gases.
• Low-Earth Orbit (LEO): Provides high-resolution images but covers specific points briefly.
• Geostationary Orbit: Offers continuous observation of the same region but at lower resolution.
• The Earth Fire Alliance (EFA) is planning to launch a satellite with a resolution of 5 meters, compared to ESA’s Sentinel-2 satellites with 10-meter resolution.

Earth Fire Alliance (EFA):

• Established in 2024, the Earth Fire Alliance is a global, community-led, non-profit coalition dedicated to providing transformative real-time data on all fires worldwide.
• Mission Objectives:
  • Comprehensive monitoring of all fires on Earth.
  • Deliver timely and reliable fire-related information to communities globally.
  • Support the preservation of Earth’s ecosystems and biodiversity by informing climate resilience strategies.
  • FireSat Constellation: In collaboration with Muon Space, EFA is developing the FireSat satellite constellation to enhance global wildfire response.

ESA’s Sentinel-2 Satellites:

• Part of the European Space Agency’s Copernicus program, Sentinel-2 comprises a pair of satellites, Sentinel-2A and Sentinel-2B, launched in 2015 and 2017, respectively.
• Features:
  • Equipped with multispectral instruments capturing 13 spectral bands.
  • Provides imagery at resolutions of 10m, 20m, and 60m, depending on the spectral band.
  • Offers a revisit frequency of approximately five days at the equator, enabling frequent monitoring.
• Applications:
  • Supports agricultural practices, forestry management, and land cover classification.
  • Assists in monitoring natural disasters, including wildfires, floods, and volcanic eruptions.
  • Aids in tracking changes in vegetation, water bodies, and soil conditions.

FOREST-3 Nanosatellites:

• Developed by OroraTech, FOREST-3 is an advanced nanosatellite designed to enhance wildfire detection and environmental monitoring capabilities.
• Features:
  • Monitors three channels in the Thermal Infrared spectrum to detect wildfires.
  • Provides additional visual data to complement thermal readings.
  • Equipped with an onboard graphics card capable of on-orbit fire detection and image stacking.
• Mission Objectives:
  • Delivers near-real-time alerts to facilitate prompt response.
  • Offers a spatial resolution of 5 meters, enabling the identification of small-scale fires.
  • Aims for a revisit time of 30 minutes by 2026 through a planned constellation of nanosatellites.
  • FOREST-3 was successfully launched on January 14, 2025, aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 mission, marking a significant advancement in European Earth observation capabilities.