Upcoming and prospective fire monitoring missions based on the heritage of the BIRD (bi-spectral infrared detection) satellite

Observation of active fires enables the estimation of trace gas and aerosol emissions, and can support fire management, air pollution monitoring and forecasting, and reporting efforts under international conventions. Here we present a mission concept for a dedicated Fire Monitoring Constellation (FMC) of small satellites based on experience from the BIRD mission (2001 - 2004), as well as the upcoming FireBIRD mini-constellation to start operating in 2014. An operational FMC should provide near daily observations during afternoon hours, improve characterisation and monitoring of fires in the low latitudes, and provide high spatial resolution to characterize fire fronts and predominant combustion regime.