Wildfire infrastructure

An infrared spectrometer and ceilometer sit in the foreground with a trapezoidal radar wind profiler in the background, in a grassy field in Courtland, Alabama.
NOAA’s advanced technologies provide data to improve smoke observations and advance wildfire modeling. Seen here, a radar wind profiler, ceilometer, and infrared sounder collect wind speed and direction, cloud base height and aerosol profiles, and profiles of temperature and humidity, respectively. Instruments like these will be procured and deployed at four fixed sites in the western part of the U.S. (Dr. Bianca Adler, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory)
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law summary: “Shall be for observation and dissemination of infrastructure used for wildfire prediction, detection, and forecasting.”

Drought and persistent heat set the stage for extraordinary wildfire seasons in 2020 and 2021, underlining the urgent need to understand and better predict the extent and intensity of future fires. Fire managers, elected officials, land managers, frontline communities and emergency response agencies must be equipped with and are asking for improved outlooks, observations, and predictive guidance to battle these devastating wildfires.

NOAA has developed a comprehensive plan that will strengthen our Nation’s foundational infrastructure for fighting, and recovering from, wildfires. The plan will upgrade and advance key ground-based and UAS observations and dissemination systems.   These new observations will be used to understand atmospheric processes associated with wildfire-atmosphere interactions, including smoke and its impact on solar radiation, and improve NOAA’s weather and air quality prediction systems.

These actions will improve wildfire prediction, detection, and forecasting, advance information dissemination, and support critical decision support services while increasing cybersecurity and reducing risk of infrastructure issues.

Funding

 $50M in FY 2022

Announcements

  • Funding will likely be distributed internally, therefore no external funding opportunity is expected at this time.
An infrared spectrometer and ceilometer sit in the foreground with a trapezoidal radar wind profiler in the background, in a grassy field in Courtland, Alabama.
NOAA’s advanced technologies provide data to improve smoke observations and advance wildfire modeling. Seen here, a radar wind profiler, ceilometer, and infrared sounder collect wind speed and direction, cloud base height and aerosol profiles, and profiles of temperature and humidity, respectively. Instruments like these will be procured and deployed at four fixed sites in the western part of the U.S. (Dr. Bianca Adler, NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory)
Download Image

Lead office