Improved Detection of Hotspots using the AVHRR 3.7-um Channel

Abstract

The 3.7-?m channel on-board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) provides the unique capability to detect small, but hot, surface features. We present an image-processing technique based on a pixel-by-pixel subtraction of 10.8 ?m from 3.7 ?m brightness temperatures. We also develop an automated technique which classifies hotspots based on: 1) the brightness temperatures at 3.7 and 10.8 ?m at a given pixel, and 2) a background temperature based on the immediately surrounding pixels.