A multi-year active fire dataset for the tropics derived from the TRMM VIRS

A pan-tropical active fire dataset derived from observations made with the Visible and Infrared Scanner (VIRS), onboard the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite, is described. The dataset consists of monthly 0.5degrees resolution fire summary products from January 1998 to the present, with geographical coverage spanning latitudes 38degreesS to 38degreesN. Several key issues previously not considered in summarizing satellite-derived fire 'counts' were addressed during development of the product. The dataset is intended to provide a current, continuous, multi-year record of fire activity in the tropics and subtropics for input to global studies on the Earth's land and atmosphere processes, their interaction, and relation to climate change. Following the availability of improved global fire coverage from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), the VIRS fire dataset will continue to be useful because it can provide new multi-year information on the diurnal cycle of fire that is difficult to achieve at the global scale. Development of an efficient, operational production stream for this dataset was achieved through an innovative and cost-effective data-mining activity at the Goddard Earth Sciences Distributed Active Archive Center (GES DAAC). For the remainder of the expected six-year lifespan of the TRMM spacecraft (through 2003), the VIRS fire products will continue to be generated through cooperation with the GES DAAC. Facilities for Web-based distribution of the products are currently being developed at http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov.