The international scientific community has stressed the need for long-term monitoring of biomass burning for global climate change research. Biomass burning is a distinct biogeochemical process and plays a major role in the global carbon cycle impacting both regional and global climate change. Biomass burning releases significant amounts of reactive trace gases and particulates into the atmosphere. Recent modeling and analysis efforts have suggested that the direct and indirect radiative effects of biomass burning aerosols play a significant role in the radiative balance of the earth and are an important factor in climate change calculations. The extent of burning and the impact of these activities on the global environment are not well understood. Remote sensing offers the most cost effective means for long-term monitoring of fires and associated aerosols.