FEER Coefficient of Emission (Cₑ) Product User Manual

Abstract

The relatively new ability to measure radiant energy on a global scale with the use of powerful sensors aboard earth-observing satellites is revolutionizing the science of fire research. The advent of mid-infrared (MIR) narrowband channels on these orbital platforms has brought about the ability to quantitatively characterize fire on a global basis and for an extended period of time. By putting this unprecedented satellite capability to advantageous use, new emissions inventories based on remotely sensed fire data have continued to be created ever since it was established that there is a linear relationship between biomass consumed and emissions output (e.g. Seiler and Crutzen 1980). However, most of the initial satellite-derived inventories were based on the qualitative use of fire detects to estimate emissions. New inventories that are based on the quantitative use of fire radiative power (FRP) measurements are now being developed, although they use the common bottom-up methodologies that by their very nature are complex and prone to compounding uncertainties. The Fire Energetics and Emissions Research (FEER) coefficient of emission (Cₑ) version 1.0 dataset is the first global gridded product in the family of ‘emission factors,’ that is based essentially on satellite measurements, and requires only direct satellite FRP measurements of an actively burning fire anywhere to evaluate its emission rate in near real time, which is essential for operational activities, such as the monitoring and forecasting of smoke emission impacts on air quality (Ichoku and Kaufman 2005; Ichoku and Ellison 2014). Therefore, the FEER Cₑ product is a revolutionary idea and product. This FEER Cₑ product user manual is provided to help the user in understanding the FEER Cₑ product and guide the user in extracting and using the data.