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Fuel Moisture: NASA SPoRT Land Information System

The NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) Center has developed a Real-Time Land Information System (LIS), using satellite-derived datasets, ground-based observations, and model reanalysis to inform weather models with influences from the land surface. The link, above, allows you to select data by date and product but, for near real-time observations, the SPoRT Viewer may be easier to navigate and explore.

Products are updated daily and include:

  • Volumetric Soil Moisture represents actual moisture in a soil column.
  • Relative Soil Moisture represents the soil moisture for a given soil column on a relative scale between soil saturation and wilting levels.
  • Column-Integrated Relative Soil Moisture combines four column depths down to 200cm.
  • Green Vegetation Fraction-current and trends-from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
  • Land surface temperature and Heat Flux.

Soil Moisture products evaluate conditions at five levels:

  • 0-10 cm – relates most directly to the Fire Weather Index (FWI) Du Moisture Code, or DMC
  • 10-40 cm – relates most directly to the FWI Drought Code, or DC
  • 40-100 cm
  • 100-200 cm
  • 0-200 cm Integrated Column

Available at 3km resolutions for the Continental U.S. (CONUS), analysts should consider using the following:

Column-Integrated Relative Soil Moisture products to assess current drought levels and changes over one week, two weeks, one month, three months, six months, and one year.

Green Vegetation Fraction products that are updated daily in lieu of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) that are updated on only a weekly basis. Current conditions are augmented by 1-month, 2-month, 3-month, 4-month, and 1-year change products.

Relative Soil Moisture products that may be correlated to fuel moisture contents applied in fire effects and fire spread models. A 0-10 cm 1-day change product provides an assessment of rainfall effects on the top soil layer that relates to fuel moisture in carrier fuels.

Image
Relative Soil Moisture for top 2 centimeters. Example graphic from the SPoRT Land Information System for April 18th of 2017.

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NWCG Latest Announcements

Incident Position Standards and Next Generation Position Task Book Available for Helicopter Crewmember

Date: April 28, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Helicopter Operations Subcommittee

NWCG is excited to announce that the NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22, and the NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22, are now available.

These resources, part of the Performance Support Package developed through the Incident Performance and Training Modernization (IPTM) effort, support trainees, qualified personnel, and evaluators.

Any changes to qualification pathways will take effect with the next update of the NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Position Qualifications, PMS 310-1.

References:

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Incident Position Standards for Helicopter Crewmember, PMS 350-22

NWCG Position Task Book for Helicopter Crewmember (HECM), PMS 311-22

Updated NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

Date: April 23, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Interagency Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Subcommittee

The NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515 standardizes processes and procedures for the interagency use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), including pilot inspections and approvals. This updated publication provides the aviation community with standards to ensure UAS are used safely, effectively, and efficiently in support of fire management goals and objectives.

References:

NWCG Standards for Fire Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations, PMS 515

NWCG National Interagency Aviation Committee

ETC Bulletin 25-001: Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits - 2025 Field Season

Date: April 16, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Equipment Technology Committee

Due to spout failures and the associated risk of burn injuries, manufacturers have retrofitted the Hot/Cold Beverage Kits using a heat-shrinking band to secure the black spout at the insertion site. The updated kits feature a fluorescent label on each full kit assembly for easy identification. Catering units are encouraged to confirm the clear heat-shrinking bands are intact around each spout before filling.

ETC Bulletin 24-001 regarding Hot/Cold Beverage Kits has been archived and replaced by ETC Bulletin 25-001 for the 2025 season.

References:

NWCG Alerts

ETC-EB-25-001 Retrofitted Hot/Cold Beverage Kits

NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and Next Generation Position Task Book for Basic Faller Are Now Available

Date: April 14, 2025
Questions?  Please contact:
Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee

The updated NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212, and NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-19 are now available.

The NWCG Standards for Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212 includes position standards designed to be used in conjunction with the Next Generation Position Task Book (Next Gen PTB). The Next Gen PTB for Basic Faller (FAL3) includes an evaluation guide with suggested rating elements to consider when assessing trainees.

References:

NWCG Standards For Wildland Fire Chainsaw Operations, PMS 212

NWCG Position Task Book for Basic Faller (FAL3), PMS 311-119

NWCG Basic Faller (FAL3)