The OLS visible channel has the capability to detect the lights of cities at night, allowing for a different perspective on the spatial analysis of the urban landscape. Below is a sample of this type of application. It is interesting to note that the lights of fishing vessels were also detected in the Sea of Japan. Click here to view more images of this application. The OLS visible channel can also detect lightning in thunderstorm clouds.
Lightning is indicated by horizontal white lines in the imagery.
Click here to see an example of this application. The IR channel can be utilized when clouds obscure the area of interest. Not only can the core area of a fire be detected, but the smoke plume can be seen on the imagery as well, giving the analyst an idea of which direction the smoke will travel and who could be affected by the residual smoke. Click here to view an image used to detect and estimate coverages of forest fires that occurred in Idaho during August of 1994. Click here to view images of various biomass burning events.