| 10 Mar 2026
Observation operator and detection limits for MODIS and VIIRS Fire Radiative Power products
Abstract. We analyze the MODIS and VIIRS active-fire Fire Radiative Power (FRP) products and suggest an approximation for the FRP detection limit as a linear function of a pixel area and develop analytical observation operators for both pixel-level and gridded FRP products. We have shown that the collection-6.1 of MODIS has the FRP detection limit at 3.7 MW in case of a nadir retrieval at a clear-sky night. For a daytime sideview, it reaches as high as 40 MW. For VIIRS, the smallest fire reliably detected at night is 0.5 MW. Application of the developed operators for the cross-mapping the MODIS and VIIRS datasets at the pixel/granule level confirmed their consistency. Applying the grid-level operators alongside satellite overpass and weather data, we generated global maps of fire detection probabilities, revealing regional variations. As a global average, probability of detection of powerful fires is 78 % for MODIS (88 % for VIIRS). Variations between regions are large: in some equatorial areas this probability is less than 30 % for MODIS (40% for VIIRS).
This paper analyzes the quantity of wildfires missed by earth-observing satellites. Â It particularly compares the data from the MODIS and VIIRS systems. Â The paper draws the interesting conclusion that the fraction of missed fires may be higher than previously reported.
The best aspect of the paper is the analysis that leads to the comparison of the two systems. Â It could be improve by a bit more explanation of how the "symmetric OOp application" (line 289) is performed.
The weakest aspect is the pixel size analysis, which could be reduced and summarized for readability.
Overall, this is a very good paper that is basically ready for publication.