Abstract: A method is provided for automatically detecting fires on Earth's surface by satellite. The method includes: acquiring multi-spectral images of the Earth at different times, each a collection of single-spectral images each associated with a respective wavelength, each image being made up of pixels each indicative of a spectral radiance from a respective area of the Earth; computing an adaptive predictive model predicting spectral radiances at a considered time for considered pixels based on previously acquired spectral radiances of the considered pixels and those previously predicted for the considered pixels by the adaptive predictive model; comparing acquired spectral radiances of the considered pixels at a considered time with those predicted at the same considered time for the considered pixels by the adaptive predictive model; and detecting fires or atmospheric phenomena in areas of the Earth's surface or atmosphere corresponding to the considered pixels based on an outcome of the comparison.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of detecting a target in a sea area based on a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image thereof. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image is made up of pixels, each having a respective magnitude. The method comprises computing a first reference quantity which characterizes a Poisson distribution assumed for the magnitudes that the pixels in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image would have if the sea area were free of targets. The method further comprises selecting pixels in the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, computing a real quantity which characterizes a real statistical distribution of the magnitudes of the selected pixels, and detecting a target in the sea area based on the computed first reference and real quantities. The selected pixels are in a one and the same sub-image of the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image, and detecting comprises detecting a target in a sea subarea of the sea area, the sea subarea being represented by the sub-image.