Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece
The frequent occurrence of large and high-intensity wildfires in the Mediterranean region poses a major threat to people and the environment. In this context, the estimation of dead fine fuel moisture content (DFMC) has become an integrated part of wildfire management since it provides valuable info...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/21/4224 |
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| author | Eleni Dragozi Theodore M. Giannaros Vasiliki Kotroni Konstantinos Lagouvardos Ioannis Koletsis |
| author_facet | Eleni Dragozi Theodore M. Giannaros Vasiliki Kotroni Konstantinos Lagouvardos Ioannis Koletsis |
| author_sort | Eleni Dragozi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The frequent occurrence of large and high-intensity wildfires in the Mediterranean region poses a major threat to people and the environment. In this context, the estimation of dead fine fuel moisture content (DFMC) has become an integrated part of wildfire management since it provides valuable information for the flammability status of the vegetation. This study investigates the effectiveness of a physically based fuel moisture model in estimating DFMC during severe fire events in Greece. Our analysis considers two approaches, the satellite-based (MODIS DFMC model) and the weather station-based (AWSs DFMC model) approach, using a fuel moisture model which is based on the relationship between the fuel moisture of the fine fuels and the water vapor pressure deficit (D). During the analysis we used weather station data and MODIS satellite data from fourteen wildfires in Greece. Due to the lack of field measurements, the models’ performance was assessed only in the case of the satellite data by using weather observations obtained from the network of automated weather stations operated by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). Results show that, in general, the satellite-based model achieved satisfactory accuracy in estimating the spatial distribution of the DFMC during the examined fire events. More specifically, the validation of the satellite-derived DFMC against the weather-station based DFMC indicated that, in all cases examined, the MODIS DFMC model tended to underestimate DFMC, with MBE ranging from −0.3% to −7.3%. Moreover, in all of the cases examined, apart from one (Sartis’ fire case, MAE: 8.2%), the MAE of the MODIS DFMC model was less than 2.2%. The remaining numerical results align with the existing literature, except for the MAE case of 8.2%. The good performance of the satellite based DFMC model indicates that the estimation of DFMC is feasible at various spatial scales in Greece. Presently, the main drawback of this approach is the occurrence of data gaps in the MODIS satellite imagery. The examination and comparison of the two approaches, regarding their operational use, indicates that the weather station-based approach meets the requirements for operational DFMC mapping to a higher degree compared to the satellite-based approach. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:53:58Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T05:53:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-7e5aefbce3db4a77b9a5724e9b9904b12023-11-22T21:30:16ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-10-011321422410.3390/rs13214224Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of GreeceEleni Dragozi0Theodore M. Giannaros1Vasiliki Kotroni2Konstantinos Lagouvardos3Ioannis Koletsis4Institute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceInstitute for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, GreeceThe frequent occurrence of large and high-intensity wildfires in the Mediterranean region poses a major threat to people and the environment. In this context, the estimation of dead fine fuel moisture content (DFMC) has become an integrated part of wildfire management since it provides valuable information for the flammability status of the vegetation. This study investigates the effectiveness of a physically based fuel moisture model in estimating DFMC during severe fire events in Greece. Our analysis considers two approaches, the satellite-based (MODIS DFMC model) and the weather station-based (AWSs DFMC model) approach, using a fuel moisture model which is based on the relationship between the fuel moisture of the fine fuels and the water vapor pressure deficit (D). During the analysis we used weather station data and MODIS satellite data from fourteen wildfires in Greece. Due to the lack of field measurements, the models’ performance was assessed only in the case of the satellite data by using weather observations obtained from the network of automated weather stations operated by the National Observatory of Athens (NOA). Results show that, in general, the satellite-based model achieved satisfactory accuracy in estimating the spatial distribution of the DFMC during the examined fire events. More specifically, the validation of the satellite-derived DFMC against the weather-station based DFMC indicated that, in all cases examined, the MODIS DFMC model tended to underestimate DFMC, with MBE ranging from −0.3% to −7.3%. Moreover, in all of the cases examined, apart from one (Sartis’ fire case, MAE: 8.2%), the MAE of the MODIS DFMC model was less than 2.2%. The remaining numerical results align with the existing literature, except for the MAE case of 8.2%. The good performance of the satellite based DFMC model indicates that the estimation of DFMC is feasible at various spatial scales in Greece. Presently, the main drawback of this approach is the occurrence of data gaps in the MODIS satellite imagery. The examination and comparison of the two approaches, regarding their operational use, indicates that the weather station-based approach meets the requirements for operational DFMC mapping to a higher degree compared to the satellite-based approach.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/21/4224dead fuel moisture contentsatellite remote sensingMODIS surface reflectance products |
| spellingShingle | Eleni Dragozi Theodore M. Giannaros Vasiliki Kotroni Konstantinos Lagouvardos Ioannis Koletsis Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece Remote Sensing dead fuel moisture content satellite remote sensing MODIS surface reflectance products |
| title | Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece |
| title_full | Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece |
| title_fullStr | Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece |
| title_short | Dead Fuel Moisture Content (DFMC) Estimation Using MODIS and Meteorological Data: The Case of Greece |
| title_sort | dead fuel moisture content dfmc estimation using modis and meteorological data the case of greece |
| topic | dead fuel moisture content satellite remote sensing MODIS surface reflectance products |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/21/4224 |
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