MW is the abbreviation for megawatts, which is a unit of power (specifically in fire reporting, the rate at which energy is radiated from a fire) used to quantify the fire’s intensity or the heat output. The term “FRP” or Fire Radiative Power is often used in conjunction with “MW” to describe the fire’s energy release rate, which is measured in megawatts (MW).
FRP is useful for estimating the intensity of wildfires, providing valuable information about a fire’s energy release rate.
WEATHER RADAR with Fire Spots (FRP in MW and Acres) …
RAIN ACCUMULATION with Fire Spots (FRP in MW and Acres) …
Satellite Monitoring:
Satellite imagery and other remote sensing technologies often use FRP measurements (in MW) to detect and characterize active fires.
NOAA’s GOES-R Series (.gov) fire detection and characterization product shows fire radiative power in colors from black to red for 0 to 1000 megawatts (MW), red to yellow for 1000 to 2000 MW, and yellow to white for 2000-3000 MW.
FRP is depicted as the pixel-integrated fire radiative power in MW (MegaWatts).
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