Accuracy assessment of the latest generations of MODIS burned area products for mapping fire scars on a regional scale over Campos Amazônicos Savanna Enclave (Brazilian Amazon)

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the accuracy of the latest versions of burned area (BA) products derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) series (MCD45A1 v051, MCD64A1 v051, and MCD64A1 v006), quantifying their progression in the annual/seasonal mapping of fire scars on a regional scale over tropical savanna environments. To this end, a validation was processed comparing each product with a BA reference covering the period of 2001 to 2016, available for one of the largest savanna vegetation enclaves located in the southern Brazilian Amazon, the Campos Amazonicos Savanna Enclave. Three indices derived from cross-tabulated error matrices were used in the comparison [commission error, omission error (Oe), and Dice coefficient]. Pareto boundaries were also computed to explore the influence of the spatial resolution of the MODIS products on detecting BAs. The overall assessment found a clear decrease in Oes, varying from 0.797 and 0.499 in the MCD45A1 v051 and MCD64A1 v051, respectively, to a value of 0.280 in the MCD64A1 v006. Improvements obtained with MCD64A1 v006 in the middle and late dry season periods were significant. The results validate the higher performance of MCD64A1 v006 and confirm it as a useful instrument for the regional mapping of BAs over tropical savanna areas.