Estimation of fire potential index in mountainous protected region using remote sensing

Abstract Wildfires are a recurrent and serious challenge in mountainous regions. Improved understanding of fire risk is important for future fire management plans. Fire potential index (FPI) derived from remotely sensed, meteorological variables and elevation from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer-Digital Elevation Model (ASTER-DEM) was used to provide useful index of fire risk in the study area from 2011 to 2014. The mean inter-annual area coverage of FPI shows that most of the study area fell between low (42%) and insignificant (34%) fire danger categories. Areas vulnerable to greatest fire danger include valleys and low lying plains towards the eastern portion of the study area. The model revealed an overall accuracy of 89% ranging from 33% to 100% indicating that maximum of fires fell under low to moderate danger classes. The model performance indicates the potential of Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) derived indices to predict fire danger in mountainous terrains with limited accessibility.

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