Analysis and Assessment of the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Burned Areas in the Amazon Forest

Author(s)

Cardozo, Francielle da Silva ^[1] ; Pereira, Gabriel ^[2] ; Shimabukuro, Yosio Edemir ^[1] ; Moraes, Elisabete Caria ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Natl Inst Space Res INPE, DSR, BR-12227010 Sao Jose Dos Campos - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ Sao Joao del Rei UFSJ, Dept GeoSci DEGEO, BR-36301360 Sao Joao Del Rei - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: REMOTE SENSING; v. 6, n. 9, p. 8002-8025, SEP 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 8

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of burned areas in Rondonia State, Brazil during the years 2000 to 2011 and evaluate the burned area maps. A Linear Spectral Mixture Model (LSMM) was applied to MODIS surface reflectance images to originate the burned areas maps, which were validated with TM/Landsat 5 and ETM+/Landsat 7 images and field data acquired in August 2013. The validation presented a correlation ranging from 67% to 96% with an average value of 86%. The lower correlation values are related to the distinct spatial resolutions of the MODIS and TM/ETM+ sensors because small burn scars are not detected in MODIS images and higher spatial correlations are related to the presence of large fires, which are better identified in MODIS, increasing the accuracy of the mapping methodology. In addition, the 12-year burned area maps of Rondonia indicate that fires, as a general pattern, occur in areas that have already been converted to some land use, such as vegetal extraction, large animal livestock areas or diversified permanent crops. Furthermore, during the analyzed period, land use conversion associated with climatic events significantly influenced the occurrence of fire in Rondonia and amplified its impacts. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 10/17437-4 - Burning areas mapping and radiative flux modeling in the Amazon
• Grantee: Francielle da Silva Cardozo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate