A side-by-side comparison of satellite imagery analysis following the 2017 Kenow wildfire in and around Waterton Lakes National Park. Burn severity and regrowth success were calculated using Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR).

NBR compares an area’s reflectance of near infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) energy to determine the severity of a wildfire. By comparing the NBR after the fire to the NBR before the fire we can determine the ΔNBR, giving us a general idea of the severity of the burn and the success of the regrowth.