Fire behavior and vegetation responses in experimental fires on Amazonian Savanna using remote sensing and in situ measurements

• Grant number: 19/07357-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2020
• End date: April 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Physical Geography
• Principal Investigator: Alessandra Tomaselli Fidelis
• Grantee: Daniel Borini Alves
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 15/06743-0 - How does fire season affect Cerrado vegetation?, AP.JP

Abstract

The project seeks to assess the behavior of fire and vegetation responses in experimental fires during early dry season (simulating usual prescribed fires) and late dry season (simulating usual wildfires) over Amazonian Savanna environments using a new approach: linking the monitoring of environmental variables derived from remote sensing with multitemporal in situ measurements. For this purpose, the largest Savanna enclave of Southern Amazonia is considered as study area, with selected areas within the Campos Amazônicos National Park. A total of 24 experimental plots (100x100 m) are defined (12 for each fire treatment), and 6 plots will remain monitored as controls, without induced fire. In situ variables associated with fire behavior (intensity, flame speed, height of the flames, among others), the accumulation of combustible materials (fuel loads) and the fire impact over different vegetation strata will be sampled. These measurements will be related with satellite-derived spectral indices used for the monitoring of fire-affected areas. This new approach integrates multitemporal systematization of in situ measurements into a satellite data validation perspective, exploring the potential of field data to extrapolate to the landscape level, and reinforcing its correspondence in characterizing fire behavior and its effects on vegetation regeneration. This project will be the first to report a set of experimental fires in environments of Amazonian Savanna, which will allow to progress in the understanding of the relationships between fire and vegetation in these areas. It will be also an opportunity to compare the results obtained with other experiments conducted in core areas of the Cerrado, contrasting similarities and differences. Our methodological and scientific advances will also contribute to the consolidation of research and monitoring protocols for the implementation of fire management plans, supporting the territorial management of protected areas. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PEREZ-CABELLO, FERNANDO; MONTORIO, RAQUEL; ALVES, DANIEL BORINI. Remote sensing techniques to assess post-fire vegetation recovery. CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH, v. 21, p. 9-pg., 2021-06-01. (19/07357-8)

MONTORIO, RAQUEL; PEREZ-CABELLO, FERNANDO; ALVES, DANIEL BORINI; GARCIA-MARTIN, ALBERTO. Unitemporal approach to fire severity mapping using multispectral synthetic databases and Random Forests. REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT, v. 249, NOV 2020. (19/07357-8)

NARCISIO C. BIGIO; RICARDO DE S. SECCO; HANS-JOACHIM ESSER; DANIEL BORINI ALVES; ANTÔNIO LAFFAYETE PIRES DA SILVEIRA; RUBENS SOUSA RAMOS; CASSIANE BARROSO DOS ANJOS; KÉSIA DA SILVA GONÇALVES. Mabea dalyana (Euphorbiaceae-Hippomaneae): a new subshrub with xylopodia endemic to the savannas of the Brazilian Amazon. Acta Botanica Brasilica, v. 36, 2022-03-11. (19/07357-8)

ALVES, DANIEL BORINI; FIDELIS, ALESSANDRA; PEREZ-CABELLO, FERNANDO; ALVARADO, SWANNI T.; CONCIANI, DHEMERSON ESTEVAO; CAMBRAIA, BRUNO CONTURSI; PIRES DA SILVEIRA, ANTONIO LAFFAYETE; SILVA, THIAGO SANNA FREIRE. Impact of image acquisition lag-time on monitoring short-term postfire spectral dynamics in tropical savannas: the Campos Amazonicos Fire Experiment. JOURNAL OF APPLIED REMOTE SENSING, v. 16, n. 3, p. 24-pg., 2022-07-01. (15/06743-0, 19/07357-8)