NASA’s Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, and ocean Ecosystem (PACE) satellite is now actively observing vegetation precursors and smoke plumes amid an intense North American fire season. The mission leverages three onboard instruments to track fire-related phenomena from space, from early signs of dry vegetation to the movement of smoke across the continent.
PACE’s instruments include a hyperspectral imager and two polarimeters that detect aerosol properties and ocean color, but their data also reveals conditions that lead to wildfires. By monitoring chlorophyll levels and moisture content in plants, the satellite can identify areas at elevated risk of ignition before flames appear.
The current fire season has already burned a record number of acres nationwide, according to NASA. PACE provides near-daily global coverage, offering a fresh eye on smoke dispersal patterns that could improve air quality forecasts and public health warnings.
This research fills a critical gap: while many satellites track active fires, fewer detect the subtle vegetation stress that precedes them. The data will help scientists better understand how climate change and land use amplify fire risk over time.
A key caveat is that PACE was not designed primarily for wildfire monitoring—its core mission is ocean and atmospheric science. Its fire-related observations are a secondary benefit, and ground-based validation will be needed to confirm satellite-detected vegetation stress signals.