MODIS

Fire is a complex biophysical process with multiple direct and indirect effects on the atmosphere, the biosphere and the hydrosphere. Moreover, it is now widely recognized that, in some fire prone environments, fire disturbance is essential to maintain the ecosystem in a state of equilibrium... The MODIS active fire and burned area products contain information unique to understanding the timing and spatial distribution of fires and their characteristics... The MODIS Standard Fire products provide an important contribution to the NASA Land Use and Land Cover Program and the international Global Observation of Forest Cover (GOFC) Project.