Air Algérie 5017 in VIIRS 24 July 2014

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Air Algérie 5017 in VIIRS24 July 2014

Scott Lindstrom, William Straka III

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Background

• Air Algérie 5017 departed Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, to Algiers, Algeria at 0107am

• Contact lost at rougly 0155Z

• Wreckage of the plane had been found in the Gossi region of Mali, 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the border with Burkina Faso. This was confirmed by both the French and Burkina Faso military

• The cause of crash is currently under investigation

• VIIRS overflew the Gossi, Mali region at roughly 0155Z, about the time of the crash.– The DNB observed an emitted light source near the source of the crash.

Executive Summary

• An investigation, using both VIIRS imagery as well as other sources was undertaken to determine the source of the light

• Sources include– VIIRS DNB, M13 and I04 Bands– Media reports along with VIIRS imagery• Media reports include written as well as video from

French military drone over crash site

VIIRS DNB24 July, 2014 0154Z

Gossi

Gao

VIIRS I05 (11mm) 24 July, 2014 0154Z

VIIRS IMAGERYAir Algérie 5017

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VIIRS Imagery

• To determine whether or not this was a static source or the crash itself, two methods were used1. VIIRS DNB imagery2. VIIRS DNB + IR imagery

Method 1 - VIIRS DNB imagery

– Data from the surrounding clear sky nights were used to see if point source existed before hand

– 21 July 2014 used, since the region was covered by convection on 22 and 23 July 2014 during VIIRS nighttime over passes

– Red circle indicates location of emissive light source

VIIRS DNB21 July, 2014 0109Z

Gossi

Gao

VIIRS DNB24 July, 2014 0154Z

Gossi

Gao

VIIRS DNB24 July, 2014 0154Z

Gossi

Gao

Gossi

Gao

VIIRS Imagery

Method 2 - VIIRS DNB + IR imagery– The 3.9mm band is used for fire detection, so the

resulting fire might possibly provide a thermal signature

– The image was zoomed to look at the light source directly

– Two channels were used: M13 and I04.• M13 is more sensitive to fires, but I04 provides greater

spatial resolution– Orange arrow indicates center of light source in DNB

VIIRS DNB24 July, 2014 0154Z

VIIRS M1324 July, 2014 0154Z

Lack of IR signature

VIIRS I0424 July, 2014 0154Z

Relative hot spot in I04

imagery

VIIRS Imagery Summary

• Both methods indicate this is a source only on 24 July 2014.1. VIIRS DNB imagery

• Source only present on 24 July 2014 imagery and not on 21 or 25 July 2014

2. VIIRS DNB + IR imagery• The M13 (3.9 mm) imagery showed no thermal hot/warm spot at the

location of the light source. This is likely due to cloud cover (hence the diffuse nature of the light source)

• The I04 (3.7mm) imagery did show a relatively warm (274.5K) spot in the exact location of the light source, indicating a possible fire of some sort. However, it was quite small (~2 pixels)

• However, this alone does not prove it is the location of the crash. Hence independent sources must be used

MEDIA REPORTS + VIIRS IMAGERY

Air Algérie 5017

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Executive Summary

• Media reports place the crash to the south of Gossi, Mali, roughly 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Burkina Faso border

• The online version of the Wall Street Journal provided footage from the French military drone which first located the crash

French Military Drone footage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-PUxt_ixOQo#t=10

The drone coordinates are: 15o 8.149’ N, 1o 4.755’ W (15.1359N, 1.0793W). These coordinates seem to verify those from other sources. We can place these coordinates on to the VIIRS imagery.

VIIRS DNB24 July, 2014 0154Z

15 N1 W

15.1359N, 1.0793W

VIIRS I0424 July, 2014 0154Z

15 N1 W

15.1359N, 1.0793W

Media reports +VIIRS Imagery Summary

• Media reports place the crash to the south of Gossi, Mali, roughly 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Burkina Faso border, the approximate location of the light source

• The online version of the Wall Street Journal provided footage from the French military drone which first located the crash

• The coordinates of from the French military drone (15.1359N, 1.0793W) place the source of the Air Algérie 5017 crash site

CONCLUSIONSAir Algérie 5017

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Conclusions

• The VIIRS overpass at ~0155Z on 24 July indicates an anomalous light source in the vicinity of the Air Algérie 5017 crash site, roughly at the time contact was lost

• Using multiple methods, including coordinates from the French military drone which located the crash, it is almost certain that the anomalous light source is from the fire resulting from the impact of Air Algérie 5017 in southern Mali.