Fire Emissivity Detection by a Microwave Radiometer

In this letter, the detectability of fire by a microwave radiometer is investigated. In order to understand the fire from a radiometric point of view, the parameters of fire emissivity had to be determined. Therefore, representative fire types were analyzed, and fire spot emissivity values have been derived from measured data. Four typical burning fuels were tested, i.e., gasoline, wood, flood trash, and straw, respectively. In addition, the parameters of a scenario in which the fire temperature was changed was set and analyzed in order to investigate detectable radiometric contrasts. As a result, specific values of the fire spot emissivity are presented. The obtained results can provide indispensable inputs for designers of microwave fire detection instruments.