This satellite image displays the shortwave infrared wavelength band (band 7) from the GOES-16 satellite. This is a particular wavelength band (centered at 3.9 microns) that is very useful for detecting wildland fires (wildfires or prescribed fires). Fires appear as distinct black areas (often dots) against the usual gray background. Clouds are depicted in whites and will usually obscure any surface fires. The map, useful during day or night, has a spatial resolution of 2 km with a central wavelength of 3.9 microns. This image is provided by the College of DuPage and is updated every 5 minutes. The time of the image is shown beneath the map in UTC time (CST = UTC - 6 hours; CDT = UTC - 5 hours). Click here to see an animation of this map with county boundaries over the past four hours. More information about this particular wavelength band and its uses can be found here.