Predicting the occurrence and spread of wildfires is a challenge in regions all across the globe, but innovative approaches to leveraging Earth observation data may change the landscape of wildfire prediction. In a new Data in Action story, researchers combined NASA's Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) and wildfire event data to develop wildfire susceptibility models. By assessing pre-fire vegetation and drought conditions, these models can help predict the likelihood of wildfire occurrence and spread. In one use case, researchers using these models were able to predict 90% of wildfires a week in advance of the fires occurring.
Read "ECOSTRESS Data Offer Significant Potential for Wildfire Prediction and Analysis" for more details about this advance.