Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) is a sensor carried on the joint NASA and NOAA Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 satellites that uses algorithms similar to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to detect active fires, but at a finer spatial resolution of 375 meters per pixel. The higher resolution provides a greater response over fires of relatively small areas, improved mapping of large fire perimeters, and improved nighttime performance. Like MODIS, VIIRS detections are thermal anomalies distributed in near real time through NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS).
