Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: A MODIS direct broadcast algorithm for mapping wildfire burned area in the western United States

Author: Urbanski, S. P.; Salmon, J. M.; Nordgren, B. L.; Hao, W. M.

Date: 2009

Source: Remote Sensing of Environment. 113: 2511-2526.

Description: Improved wildland fire emission inventory methods are needed to support air quality forecasting and guide the development of air shed management strategies. Air quality forecasting requires dynamic fire emission estimates that are generated in a timely manner to support real-time operations. In the regulatory and planning realm, emission inventories are essential for quantitatively assessing the contribution of wildfire to air pollution. The development of wildland fire emission inventories depends on burned area as a critical input. This study presents a Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) - direct broadcast (DB) burned area mapping algorithm designed to support air quality forecasting and emission inventory development. The algorithm combines active fire locations and single satellite scene burn scar detections to provide a rapid yet robust mapping of burned area.

Keywords: fire, burned area, fire detection, MODIS

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Citation

Urbanski, S. P.; Salmon, J. M.; Nordgren, B. L.; Hao, W. M.  2009.  A MODIS direct broadcast algorithm for mapping wildfire burned area in the western United States.   Remote Sensing of Environment. 113: 2511-2526..