Nonparametric Statistics Applied to Fire Foci Obtained by Meteorological Satellites and Their Relationship to the MCD12Q1 Product in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil

Abstract

AbstractThis study shows the relationship between the fire foci and the MCD12Q1 product (MODIS) for the land use and occupation in the state of Rio de Janeiro (SRJ) and evaluates the growth and decay of trends fire foci through nonparametric tests, applied to the number of fire foci in the 2000–2012 period. The study period was divided into (1) 2001 to 2013 for assessment of the product MCD12Q1 back for the land use and occupation and application of nonparametric tests and (2) 2000 to 2012 for the descriptive statistics (total and percentage‐%) of fire foci geared for regional assessment. To evaluate growth trends and decay of fire foci, the nonparametric tests (Mann–Kendall and Pettitt) were utilized. Based on data obtained by Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE), the land use and occupation in the SRJ has been modified from the last two census years (1995 and 2006). The Mann–Kendall test was significant for the year 2001, with trends of 0 · 19 and 0 · 08 (Mann–Kendall). Fire foci for the years 2001 and 2013 grew with an increase of 0 · 05 and 0 · 01 per year, respectively. The Pettitt statistic test applied for the year 2001 showed that almost 70% of the studied municipalities were above the critical threshold, which has not occurred for the year 2013. The North Fluminense Region with 596 fire foci (30 · 35%) was the one with the largest number of fire foci, and the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes was the largest contributor, with 344 fire foci (57 · 72%). The Pasturage class (MCD12Q1 product) had the biggest number of fire foci, with 354 foci (56 · 64%) in 2001 and 564 foci (42 · 28%) in 2013 and the largest amount in the north of the SRJ. The study indicated that there was a significant increase in average fire foci. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.