The Effect of Needle-Leaved Species in Increasing the Risk of Fire by Using Remote Sensing, Case Study: Forests of Golestan, Iran

Akram Karimi,Hamid Reza Kabiri Balajadeh,Kaveh Ostad-Ali-Askari,Vijay P Singh,Sara Abdollahi

doi:10.3844/ajeassp.2018.379.386

Abstract

The present research was conducted to determine the sensitivity of needle-leaved species compared to broad-leaved in causing a natural fire in Golestan province. Vegetation and moisture stresses of plants were studied in both needle and mixed leaved forest the fire occurred in 2010-2014. In order to examine the normal condition of each indicator, the time series was produced from 2000 to 2015. The threshold of the applied indicators was determined using its long-term normal. The threshold value was determined as an average of 15 days before the fire, as well as on the day before the fire. The results showed that the amount of dry matter increased in the affected areas and the plants were exposed to moisture stress. Among the indicators used in this study, GVMI shows more sensitivity to fire rather than other indicators with a higher nominal frequency. In the broadleaf forest of (1.803) and in the forest forests (1.63), there is a decrease compared to the time series. Generally, these needle-leaved species have a lower tolerance to moisture stress than the broadleaf.

Highlights

Fire is one of the most serious environmental phenomena that annually causes huge damages throughout the world in terms of economic, social, ecological and humanitarian hazards (Germ‫ل‬n et al, 2005)
The index, that the greatest difference as compared to the time series, is more accurate to show the ability to demonstrate the difference between the needle leaved from broad leaved in fire occurrence in order to select the best index, in each index, the highest difference was chosen for the best threshold
As indicated in the table above, the needle leaved species has a risk start on its the day before the fire with the 1.68% point in GVMI index compared to time series normal and 1.509% point has a risk start on its the day before the fire compared to the mean of a month before the fire while the broad leaved species need a moisture stress in the day before the fire of 1.803 or higher than their time series normal for risk starting and 1.542% point has a risk start on its the day before the fire compared to the mean of a month before the fire

Summary

Introduction

Fire is one of the most serious environmental phenomena that annually causes huge damages throughout the world in terms of economic, social, ecological and humanitarian hazards (Germ‫ل‬n et al, 2005). Fire is one of the main causes of natural ecosystems destruction, which annually causes significant damages to these areas. The forest fire is one of the main concerns in many parts of the world from an environmental point of view and from an economic, social and security perspective (Milir and Hays, 1995). Fires that occurred in the Golestan forest areas are often found in pine coniferous parts due to the high combustion rate of dried needle leaves (gum and resin) Watershed Management Organization (FRWO). The spectral properties of plants at different wavelengths are affected by the internal and external cellular structure of the leaved, as well as the

Objectives

Results

Conclusion