VNP64A1: Global Monthly Burned Area Maps at 500m Resolution

NASA/NOAA's Suomi NPP VIIRS Burned Area product provides monthly, global 500-meter gridded data on fire-affected land. The hybrid algorithm uses 750 m VIIRS imagery and active fire observations with a burn-sensitive Vegetation Index to detect changes and assign a burn date to the nearest day. This dataset is designed to continue the MODIS burned area record, providing layers for Burn Date, Burn Date Uncertainty, Quality Assurance, and detection period.

Use Cases

• Tracking wildfire extent and timing based on the per-pixel Burn Date layer.
• Assessing uncertainty in fire mapping using the Burn Date Uncertainty data layer.
• Monitoring global fire regimes and their ecological impacts using the monthly 500m gridded product.
• Continuity analysis of Earth Observation System fire data, comparing with legacy MODIS products.

Strengths

• Provides a high-resolution (500m) global monthly product for burned area monitoring.
• Employs a sophisticated hybrid algorithm using VIIRS shortwave infrared bands (M8, M11) and active fire data to differentiate fire from other changes.
• Designed for continuity with the established MODIS Terra and Aqua burned area product series.

Limitations

• Key metadata such as row count, file size, and specific column names are not provided in any source.
• The 'last updated' field shows a future date (2026-04-09), indicating a potential metadata error or conflict.
• Documentation on known issues is referenced but not detailed within the provided descriptions.

Provenance

Source

NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite, processed by LPCLOUD.

Collection Method

Remote sensing via the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument.

Time Range

Monthly data product; specific start date not provided.

Freshness

2026-04-09 21:14:29.382068

Geography

Global