Heat on the Surface

What does “relative heat index” mean?

The Relative Heat Index is a simplified color intensity score used to track heat patterns based on visual data rather than raw thermometer readings. Because this dashboard samples RGB pixel colors directly from NASA’s rendered images, we converted those colors into a derived scale ranging from 0 to 100. In this system, higher values represent the "hottest" colors on the map, such as bright reds and oranges, while lower values represent cooler tones like deep blues. While this metric does not provide an exact temperature in degrees Celsius, it serves as a tool for comparing spatial and seasonal shifts, allowing users to see exactly how different regions warm up or cool down relative to one another over time.