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Satellite-based Assessment of Fire Impacts on Ecosystem Changes in West AfricaFires bum many vegetated regions of the world to a variety of degrees and frequency depending on season. Extensive biomass burning occurs in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, posing great threat to ecosystem stability among other real and potential adverse impacts. In Africa, such landscape-scale fires are used for various agricultural purposes, including land clearing and hunting, although there may be a limited number of cases of fires ignited by accident or due to arson. Satellite remote sensing provides the most practical means of mapping fires, because of their sudden and aggressive nature coupled with the tremendous heat they generate. Recent advancements in satellite technology has enabled, not only the identification of fire locations, but also the measurement of fire radiative energy (FRE) release rate or power (FRP), which has been found to have a direct linear relationship with the rate of biomass combustion. A recent study based on FRP measurements from the Moderate-resolution imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) sensor aboard the Terra and Aqua satellites revealed that, among all the regions of the world where fires occur, African regions rank the highest in the intensity of biomass burning per unit area of land during the peak of the burning season. In this study, we will analyze the burning patterns in West Africa during the last several years and examine the extent of their impacts on the ecosystem dynamics, using a variety of satellite data. The study introduces a unique methodology that can be used to build up the knowledge base from which decision makers can obtain scientific information in fomulating policies for regulating biomass burning in the region.
Document ID
20080047925
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Ichoku, Charles
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD, United States)
Date Acquired
August 24, 2013
Publication Date
October 27, 2008
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Meeting Information
Meeting: 7th International Conference of the African Association for Remote Sensing of Environmental (AARSE) 2008
Location: Accra
Country: Ghana
Start Date: October 27, 2008
End Date: October 31, 2008
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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