VIIRS
6 articlesWhat Is a Thermal Anomaly? Telling an Unusual Heat Source from a Routine Flare in Satellite Data
A thermal anomaly is a satellite pixel flagged as hot. At a refinery or power plant most of them are routine. How NASA separates static heat sources, and how to compare a heat source with its own past.
2026-10-06 · 10 min read
A Field Guide to Free Satellite Data Sources: Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, VIIRS, and NASA FIRMS
Four open satellite data sources cover most monitoring needs — but each one sees the world differently. This guide explains what Sentinel-1 SAR, Sentinel-2 optical, VIIRS nighttime lights, and NASA FIRMS active fire each measure, and how to pick the right one.
2026-06-19 · 5 min read
Monitoring Economic Activity and Infrastructure with VIIRS Nighttime Light Time Series
VIIRS nighttime light (DNB) time series from NASA Black Marble tracks economic activity, electrification, conflict impacts, and post-disaster recovery. Learn how to monitor any area's nighttime brightness over time and interpret what changes mean.
2026-03-30 · 9 min read
How to Monitor Any Area with Satellite Time Series: A Complete Guide
Area monitoring with satellite time series lets you automatically track changes in any region over weeks, months, or years. Learn how to set up a monitoring zone, choose the right index, and interpret results using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, and VIIRS data.
2026-03-19 · 11 min read
NASA FIRMS Explained: VIIRS vs MODIS, FRP & Confidence
How NASA FIRMS detects active fires: VIIRS 375 m vs MODIS 1 km, fire radiative power (FRP), confidence levels and what each detection record contains.
2026-02-10 · 7 min read
What Nighttime Lights Tell Us About Cities (And What They Don't)
VIIRS nighttime radiance data is a powerful proxy for human activity, but it has real limitations. This post covers practical applications, common pitfalls, and how to extract meaningful insights from nocturnal satellite observations.
2026-01-08 · 6 min read