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GROUND OBSERVATIONS DURING FROSTFIRE

The team on nearby Caribou Peak, about 2 km across the valley from the prescribed burn, operated a color videocamera, a second infrared videocamera, a spectrometer, and a black and white telephoto lens camera with a filter to capture images of carbon flame emission. All these instruments, three VCRs, and three laptops were powered by a purring portable Honda generator.
Shankar Mahalingam and John Daily (Univ. of Colorado) examine the telescope/spectrometer data. The FROSTFIRE blaze ignites after pingpong and helitorch ignition. NCAR investigator Janice Coen rests against the trusty pickup, which carried troops and instruments up to the site.
Caribou Peak is a rocky outcrop overlooking the Poker Creek valley, beyond which is nearly endless boreal forest. Yottana Khunahorn (Univ. of Colorado) and Shankar adjust the Inframetrics Thermacam infrared imager next to the infamous plastic red picnic table. After the morning briefing, Yottana and John show off their new Nomex fire-resistant gear.
The Inframetrics Thermcam records data showing the fire's emissions in the infrared during blacklining. A flame filter and a CO2 filter were used to isolate emissions in narrow wavelength bands. Alaska Fire Service escort Glen Claypoole demonstrates how to apply an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) Fires smoldering in the valley overnight turned into racing crownfires the next morning.