Fuel Moisture: NASA SPoRT Land Information System

The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has developed a Real-Time Land Information System (LIS), using satellite-derived datasets, ground-based observations, and model reanalysis to inform weather models with influences from the land surface. The link, above, allows you to select data by date and product but, for near real-time observations, the SPoRT Viewer may be easier to navigate and explore.

Products are updated daily and include:

Volumetric Soil Moisture represents actual moisture in a soil column.
Relative Soil Moisture represents the soil moisture for a given soil column on a relative scale between soil saturation and wilting levels.
Column-Integrated Relative Soil Moisture combines four column depths down to 200cm.
Green Vegetation Fraction-current and trends-from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
Land surface temperature and Heat Flux.

Soil Moisture products evaluate conditions at five levels:

0-10 cm – relates most directly to the Fire Weather Index (FWI) Du Moisture Code, or DMC
10-40 cm – relates most directly to the FWI Drought Code, or DC
40-100 cm
100-200 cm
0-200 cm Integrated Column

Available at 3km resolutions for the Continental U.S. (CONUS), analysts should consider using the following:

Column-Integrated Relative Soil Moisture products to assess current drought levels and changes over one week, two weeks, one month, three months, six months, and one year.

Green Vegetation Fraction products that are updated daily in lieu of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) that are updated on only a weekly basis. Current conditions are augmented by 1-month, 2-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 1-year change products.

Relative Soil Moisture products that may be correlated to fuel moisture contents applied in fire effects and fire spread models. A 0-10 cm 1-day change product provides an assessment of rainfall effects on the top soil layer that relates to fuel moisture in carrier fuels.

Relative Soil Moisture for top 2 centimeters. Example graphic from the SPoRT Land Information System for April 18th of 2017.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

The Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book are now available for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL)

Date: October 16, 2024
Contact: Incident Medical Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39 and NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39 are now available.

The Performance Support Package, which for MEDL includes the Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book, were developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort. The Performance Support Package will support trainees, those qualified in the position, and evaluators.

References:

NWCG Medical Unit Leader Position Page

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Medical Unit Leader, PMS 350-39

NWCG Position Task Book for Medical Unit Leader (MEDL), PMS 311-39

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal is Now Available

Date: October 9, 2024
Contact: Wildland Fire Learning Portal

The Wildland Fire Learning Portal (WFLP) is back online following a migration to a new learning management system (LMS) application. The WFLP team is actively addressing any issues that may arise as a result of the update, and appreciates your patience as the team works to enhance your experience. NWCG will share information from the WFLP as it is available.

Should you have any issues with accessing or using the WFLP, please use the link below to submit a ticket through the Help Center.

References:

Wildland Fire Learning Portal

Wildland Fire Learning Portal Help Center

NWCG Equipment Technology Committee Releases New Equipment Bulletins

Date: September 27, 2024
Contact: Equipment Technology Committee

The Equipment Technology Committee (ETC) has released three new Equipment Bulletins:

ETC-EB-24-003 Diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in fuel containers.
ETC-EB-24-004 Two-compartment fuel and oil container (Dolmar) unavailable in the United States (US) and reminders for upkeeping current inventories.
ETC-EB-24-005 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Inspection, Care, and Maintenance.

These bulletins remind field going personnel of important issues related to equipment for wildland firefighting efforts.