NASA's satellites detect fires with special sensors, marking areas where VIIRS satellites have spotted fires with nominal or high confidence.
Heart emoji means good air quality (AQI ≤ 50), while poop emoji indicates air that doesn't meet EPA standards for "clean air".
Gray streaks show NOAA smoke levels with three intensity levels, displaying smoke conditions from the previous day.
OMG Wildfires is an innovative wildfire and air quality map that everyone can understand. Climate change is fueling larger, fiercer and more frequent wildfires. In 2023, a record number of wildfires across Canada sent thick smoke to American cities hundreds of miles away, triggering air quality alerts and health warnings to more than 100 million people.
NASA's satellites are zooming around Earth day and night, with special sensors onboard to spot fires. The fire emojis on OMG Wildfires mark areas where NASA's VIIRS satellites have detected fires with either nominal or high confidence.
The heart emoji means the air quality is good (AQI ≤ 50), while the poop emoji means the air quality does not meet the US Environmental Protection Agency's standard for "clean air".
Wildfire smoke can be quite harmful to your health, especially if you're exposed to it for long periods. The danger comes from tiny particles called "fine particulate matter" or PM2.5, which are so small they can get deep into your lungs and even enter your bloodstream.
Wildfires produce lots of smoke that travels with the wind. The gray streaks on the map show smoke levels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The shades of gray represent three levels of smoke intensity.
Air quality data for OMG Wildfires is accessed through AirNow, a partnership of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NOAA, National Park Service, and other agencies that provides real-time air quality information.
Fire data is updated daily from NASA satellites. Air quality data is updated daily through AirNow. Smoke data shows conditions from the previous day after manual review by NOAA experts.
OMG Wildfires was created by Amrit Sharma (@amrit_sharma), a data journalist and air quality advocate based in Toronto. Amrit is passionate about making air quality, wildfire and climate change data accessible for everybody.
I'd love to hear from you! Suggestions, complaints, feedback, and ideas are all welcome. Feel free to tweet at me or email [email protected].
Access our complete press kit with high-resolution images, logos, and detailed information at omgwildfires.com/press.
This map is intended for educational and awareness purposes only. It should not be relied upon for making fire safety decisions. Always follow the guidance of local authorities and emergency services.