Forest Fires and Climate Correlation in Mexico State: A Report Based on MODIS

Xanat Antonio,Edward Alan Ellis

doi:10.4236/ars.2015.44023

Abstract

Forest fires are one of the most important threats for forests in the State of Mexico. Therefore, understanding their geographical patterns is a priority for the design of forest management strategies. We processed the records obtained with the MOD14A2 product (for thermal anomalies and fire) of MODIS sensor. Such scenes correspond to dry seasons (from March 15 to June 30) from 2000 to 2012 in the State of Mexico. We analyzed such records in a GIS environment to learn their spatial patterns and establish their geographical correlations as a first step to understand the causal agents of forest fires. As a result, forest fires in the State of Mexico showed a clustered spatial trend with a southwest tendency and a slight spatial relation with total winter precipitation and maximal temperature in summer.

Highlights

Forest fires are one of the most studied natural phenomena, due to its nature and impacts
In Mexico, [8] describes the factors associated to forest fires and [9] proposes a forest fires model in GIS. [10] explored the spatial relation of forest fires in the State of Durango
We use the MOD14A2 product as a first approach to understand the spatial patterns of forest fires in the State of

Summary

Introduction

Forest fires are one of the most studied natural phenomena, due to its nature and impacts. [10] explored the spatial relation of forest fires in the State of Durango. In the State of Mexico, [11] studied forest fires temporality and effects. There are no studies applying remote sensing to automatically map and understand the spatial patterns of forest fires in this State. Understanding the spatial distribution and patterns of forest fires is necessary to plan interventions in order to prevent them. For such a reason, we use the MOD14A2 product as a first approach to understand the spatial patterns of forest fires in the State of. (2015) Forest Fires and Climate Correlation in Mexico State: A Report Based on MODIS.

Method

Geographical Database Construction

Spatial Patterns and Relationships

Results

Conclusion