Unfortunately, we are not able to utilize this full range atmospheric interference is a limited factor. Thermal infrared energy extends from 3-14μm on the spectral scale. Every object on Earth with an internal temperature greater than absolute zero emits unique thermal infrared energy, known as Radiant Flux. Methods:īefore explaining the process in its entirety, it’s imperative to first understand the basics of thermal remote sensing. It is anticipated that the recovery effort will be difficult and slow in the Santa Rosa region, due to the sheer number of structures destroyed (5,100). It is also expected that lower NDVI values represent lower vegetation production as burned vegetation will no longer reflect Near Infrared light or absorb Red light to the comparison of healthy vegetation. It is expected that the thermal bands will provide an accurate active fire extent and allow sensors to identify critical areas of the fire, as the extreme temperature of fire should provide a radiant flux easily distinguishable from the surrounding landscape. In this study, MODIS sensors were used to compare the change in NDVI during the Tubbs Fire with average annual values from the same region. NDVI values in burned areas were found to be significantly lower than unburned areas. NDVI uses the Near Infrared and Red spectral bands to measure healthy vegetation based on the principle that photosynthetic organisms absorb most Red light and reflect most Near Infrared light. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is widely used to detect and measure the extent of wildfires by using the photosynthetic activity of vegetation as an indicator of a fire’s emersion. This is an effective method in mapping a fire’s intensity and burn severity, because the thermal emissivity of an active fire is greater than that of its surroundings. To accurately assess the breadth of the Tubb’s Fire, critical hotspots were georeferenced and thermal anomalies were detected using Landsat8’s thermal infrared band 10. The fire started on October 8th and quickly spread throughout Sonoma County and Napa County, burning a total of 36,807 acres until its full containment on October 31st. One of the most damaging fires in California was the Tubbs Fire (2017). The prevalence of these wind circulations is felt strongest during the months of September through December - now denoted as California’s “fire season.” The Santa Ana’s in Southern California bring similar hot, dry winds that stem from high pressures inland. The Diablo winds in Northern California bring hot, dry air that originate offshore due to high pressure over the land and low pressure over the ocean. In addition to drying vegetation, wind systems such as the Diablo and Santa Ana winds circulate through Northern and Southern California. Introduction:Ĭalifornia’s Meditterranean climate makes it susceptible to “fire seasons” - large quantities of rainfall are collected in the winter, followed by a hot and dry summer that essentially leaves blooming vegetation left to dry out and become fuel for fires. This presentation was culminated in tandem with the following peers from the University of California, Los Angeles: Shannon Cavanaugh, Austin Gates, Mikayla Hart, Jaclyn Villars Klaus, and Madeline Jordan. Three objectives were set for the parameters of this project’s success: measuring active and burnt area extent using thermal imagery, comparing NDVI fluctuations for vegetation health with fire activity, and illustrating post-fire social and structural implications for Sonoma County. This project examines the Tubbs Wildfire that devastated Sonoma County, CA in October of 2017. Using remotely sensed images for at-risk areas - like those entrenched in wildfires - is essential for monitoring vegetation indices and mitigating the fire’s destructive spread.
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