Estimation of Live Fuel Moisture Content From MODIS Images for Fire Danger Assessment in Southern Gran Chaco

ARGAÑARAZ, JUAN PABLO; GAVIER PIZARRO, GREGORIO; ARGAÑARAZ, JUAN PABLO; GAVIER PIZARRO, GREGORIO; BRAVO, SANDRA JOSEFINA; BELLIS, LAURA; BRAVO, SANDRA JOSEFINA; BELLIS, LAURA; LANDI, MARCOS ALEJANDRO; SCAVUZZO, CARLOS MARCELO; LANDI, MARCOS ALEJANDRO; SCAVUZZO, CARLOS MARCELO

IEEE JOURNAL OF SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED EARTH OBSERVATIONS AND REMOTE SENSING

IEEE-INST ELECTRICAL ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS INC

Lugar: New York; Año: 2016 vol. 9 p. 5339 - 5349

1939-1404

Moisture content of live fuels (LFMC) is one of the main factors determining fuel flammability and, therefore, a keyindicator of fire danger. In this study, we modeled the relationship between spectral indices derived from satellite imagery and field estimations of LFMC in the Chaco Serrano subregion; then, we analyzed the relationship between fire danger estimations based on LFMC calculations and fire activity. Empirical LFMC models fitted for grasslands, Chaco Serrano forests, and glossy privet forests may be considered very accurate R2 > 0.80, whereas the model corresponding to shrublands still needs to be improved (R2 = 0.57). Monthly maps of fire danger reflected the occurrence of fires consistently during years of both high and low fire activity. Most fires occurred mainly in areas with high or extreme fire danger, demonstrating a clear relationship between LFMC and fire activity in the Chaco Serrano subregion. Our LFMC models may be useful to assess the spatiotemporal distribution of fire danger in the Chaco Serrano subregion using remote sensing data. The associated fire danger maps represent a valuable tool for improving decision making processes to organize early warning and fire suppression activities.