Satellite observations for describing fire patterns and climate-related fire drivers in the Brazilian savannas
In the Brazilian savannas (Cerrado biome) fires are natural and a tool for shifting land use; therefore, temporal and spatial patterns result from the interaction of climate, vegetation condition and human activities. Moreover, orbital sensors are the most effective approach to establish patterns...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | https://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/18/125/2018/nhess-18-125-2018.pdf |
| Summary: | In the Brazilian savannas (Cerrado biome) fires are natural and a tool for
shifting land use; therefore, temporal and spatial patterns result from the
interaction of climate, vegetation condition and human activities. Moreover,
orbital sensors are the most effective approach to establish patterns in the
biome. We aimed to characterize fire, precipitation and vegetation condition
regimes and to establish spatial patterns of fire occurrence and their
correlation with precipitation and vegetation condition in the Cerrado. The
Cerrado was first and second biome for the occurrence of burned areas (BA)
and hotspots, respectively. Occurrences are higher during the dry season and
in the savanna land use. Hotspots and BA tend to decrease, and concentrate in
the north, but more intense hotspots are not necessarily located where
concentration is higher. Spatial analysis showed that averaged and summed
values can hide patterns, such as for precipitation, which has the lowest
average in August, but minimum precipitation in August was found in 7 %
of the Cerrado. Usually, there is a 2–3-month lag between minimum
precipitation and maximum hotspots and BA, while minimum VCI and maximum
hotspots and BA occur in the same month. Hotspots and BA are better
correlated with VCI than precipitation, qualifying VCI as an indicator of the
susceptibility of vegetation to ignition. |
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| ISSN: | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |