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Assessment of forest fire risk in Portugal combining meteorological and vegetation information
Forest Ecology and Management 234S (2006) S69
Abstract
Assessment of forest fire risk in Portugal combining meteorological and vegetation information L. Bugalho, B. Cafe´, L. Pessanha, J. Sanches, A.V. Sousa, R. Tavares Institute of Meteorology, Portugal
Keywords: ICRIF; FWI; Forest fires
The meteorological conditions are one of the most important factors in the forest fires context in Portugal. The meteorological conditions are very well known, with the Azores High located over the Atlantic Ocean, spreading over North Europe, associated to Eastern waves over Iberia Peninsula causing very warm and dry weather conditions in Portugal. These meteorological conditions are reflected in the meteorological forest fire index, calculated in a day-by-day basis at Institute of Meteorology (IM). Another important factor in the forest fire risk, is the vegetation condition, which can be assessed with a vegetation index like Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) evaluated using NOAA/AVHRR satellite at IM.
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.097
Up-scaling CORINE 2000 it is possible to assess a land cover and vegetation type map, which can be compatible with NOAA satellite spatial resolution, that can be associated with a structural risk level for fire ignition and propagation. Due to the vegetation change associated to burned areas in the last years in Portugal, the CORINE 2000 shall be updated indicating these modifications. In this work we will present a forest fire risk index, combining the vegetation, type and condition, with the meteorological information for Portugal with the 1.1 km 1.1 km NOAA spatial resolution.
Abstract
Assessment of forest fire risk in Portugal combining meteorological and vegetation information L. Bugalho, B. Cafe´, L. Pessanha, J. Sanches, A.V. Sousa, R. Tavares Institute of Meteorology, Portugal
Keywords: ICRIF; FWI; Forest fires
The meteorological conditions are one of the most important factors in the forest fires context in Portugal. The meteorological conditions are very well known, with the Azores High located over the Atlantic Ocean, spreading over North Europe, associated to Eastern waves over Iberia Peninsula causing very warm and dry weather conditions in Portugal. These meteorological conditions are reflected in the meteorological forest fire index, calculated in a day-by-day basis at Institute of Meteorology (IM). Another important factor in the forest fire risk, is the vegetation condition, which can be assessed with a vegetation index like Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) evaluated using NOAA/AVHRR satellite at IM.
DOI: 10.1016/j.foreco.2006.08.097
Up-scaling CORINE 2000 it is possible to assess a land cover and vegetation type map, which can be compatible with NOAA satellite spatial resolution, that can be associated with a structural risk level for fire ignition and propagation. Due to the vegetation change associated to burned areas in the last years in Portugal, the CORINE 2000 shall be updated indicating these modifications. In this work we will present a forest fire risk index, combining the vegetation, type and condition, with the meteorological information for Portugal with the 1.1 km 1.1 km NOAA spatial resolution.