Spatiotemporal Analysis of VIIRS Satellite Observations and Network Traffic During the 2025 Manitoba Wildfires
A new study finds download speeds drop and latency spikes as wildfires intensify, revealing a hidden environmental impact.
A new research paper from Xiang Shi and Peng Hu establishes a direct, measurable link between wildfire intensity and degraded internet performance. By analyzing Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) satellite data on Fire Radiative Power alongside large-scale Ookla Speedtest measurements during the record-breaking 2025 Manitoba wildfire season, the study provides concrete evidence that network infrastructure is vulnerable to environmental stress. The findings show statistically significant correlations: as wildfires intensified, download speeds decreased (Spearman's ρ = -0.214, p=0.004) and network latency, measured by round-trip time, increased (ρ = 0.162, p=0.0308).
This correlation suggests wildfires impact networks through physical damage to infrastructure, increased demand from emergency services and displaced populations, or atmospheric interference. The research, set for publication at the IEEE Canadian Conference on Electrical and Computer Engineering (CCECE 2026), moves beyond traditional wildfire management studies. It proposes a novel framework where passively collected network performance data, combined with real-time satellite imagery, can act as a proxy for assessing disaster impact and progression, offering a new tool for first responders and telecom operators to prioritize recovery efforts in critical areas.
- Study correlates VIIRS satellite fire data with Ookla Speedtest metrics during the 2025 Manitoba wildfires, finding download speed inversely related to fire intensity (ρ = -0.214).
- Network latency (round-trip time) showed a positive correlation with wildfire activity (ρ = 0.162), indicating a measurable degradation in performance.
- The method proposes using combined satellite and network data as a real-time tool for assessing disaster impact and guiding infrastructure recovery.
Why It Matters
It provides a data-driven method to predict and mitigate telecom failures during disasters, improving emergency response and infrastructure resilience.