Acquire current satellite image and discuss the weather of a particular region. Use appropriate weather observations (surface obs, raobs, warning, soundings, etc.) to support your discussion.

Part II

Access the McIDAS areas for this fire case study. The areas are 480 by 640 in size centered at 12S, 60W along the border between Brazil and Bolivia. Discuss the satellite measurements of fire and smoke. In your discussion be sure to cover the following issues:

Use the Planck function to demonstrate why the 3.9 micron channel is useful for detecting fires.
Do you notice any patterns (spatial or temporal) with regard to the location of the fires?
Do you notice any patterns with regard to the location of the smoke?
Do you notice any relationship between cloud cover in smoke regions versus cloud cover in smoke free regions?
What wavelengths are good for detecting the presence of smoke?

Of course, include explanations with your observations, drawing from your knowledge of previous course work.

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