Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model

The Canopy Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) is a pivotal factor in wildfire risk assessment within the fire triangle model, representing the ratio of canopy moisture content to its dry weight. Against the backdrop of degraded Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) performance and the...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shuai Yang, Rui Chen, Binbin He, Yiru Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843224006691
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850189790441373696
author Shuai Yang
Rui Chen
Binbin He
Yiru Zhang
author_facet Shuai Yang
Rui Chen
Binbin He
Yiru Zhang
author_sort Shuai Yang
collection DOAJ
description The Canopy Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) is a pivotal factor in wildfire risk assessment within the fire triangle model, representing the ratio of canopy moisture content to its dry weight. Against the backdrop of degraded Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) performance and the underutilization of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) in LFMC inversion, this study harnessed the coupled radiative transfer models (RTMs) to probe the spectral sensitivity of the VIIRS to LFMC and pinpoint the optimal band combination for LFMC inversion. To tackle the challenge of ill-posed inversion, we leveraged the correlation coefficient matrix to mitigate erroneous combinations of free parameters in the construction of the lookup table. Results showcase that VIIRS-based LFMC inversion yields marginally superior accuracy (R2= 0.57, R2= 0.32) for both grassland and forest types, with VIIRS-based inversion demonstrating a lower relative root mean square error (rRMSE = 5.84%), compared to results from the MODIS. By scrutinizing LFMC trends alongside precipitation (PP) data in four forest fires spanning from 2019 to 2022 in southwest China, varied degrees of LFMC decrease preceding fire outbreaks. Those results substantiated the validity of the proposed method for wildfire warning. Consequently, our study asserts the reliability of VIIRS in LFMC inversion, positioning it as a viable substitute and extension of MODIS. VIIRS offers continuous and effective product support for wildfire warning assessment, enhancing our ability to monitor and mitigate wildfire risks.
format Article
id doaj-art-03ebaeb726a14214a8a13f71e637c0b9
institution OA Journals
issn 1569-8432
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation
spelling doaj-art-03ebaeb726a14214a8a13f71e637c0b92025-08-20T02:15:32ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation1569-84322025-02-0113610431110.1016/j.jag.2024.104311Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer modelShuai Yang0Rui Chen1Binbin He2Yiru Zhang3School of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611731, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611731, ChinaCorresponding author.; School of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611731, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611731, ChinaThe Canopy Live Fuel Moisture Content (LFMC) is a pivotal factor in wildfire risk assessment within the fire triangle model, representing the ratio of canopy moisture content to its dry weight. Against the backdrop of degraded Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) performance and the underutilization of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) in LFMC inversion, this study harnessed the coupled radiative transfer models (RTMs) to probe the spectral sensitivity of the VIIRS to LFMC and pinpoint the optimal band combination for LFMC inversion. To tackle the challenge of ill-posed inversion, we leveraged the correlation coefficient matrix to mitigate erroneous combinations of free parameters in the construction of the lookup table. Results showcase that VIIRS-based LFMC inversion yields marginally superior accuracy (R2= 0.57, R2= 0.32) for both grassland and forest types, with VIIRS-based inversion demonstrating a lower relative root mean square error (rRMSE = 5.84%), compared to results from the MODIS. By scrutinizing LFMC trends alongside precipitation (PP) data in four forest fires spanning from 2019 to 2022 in southwest China, varied degrees of LFMC decrease preceding fire outbreaks. Those results substantiated the validity of the proposed method for wildfire warning. Consequently, our study asserts the reliability of VIIRS in LFMC inversion, positioning it as a viable substitute and extension of MODIS. VIIRS offers continuous and effective product support for wildfire warning assessment, enhancing our ability to monitor and mitigate wildfire risks.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843224006691Fuel moisture contentRadiative transfer modelVIIRSMODISSensitivity analysisWildfire
spellingShingle Shuai Yang
Rui Chen
Binbin He
Yiru Zhang
Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model
International Journal of Applied Earth Observations and Geoinformation
Fuel moisture content
Radiative transfer model
VIIRS
MODIS
Sensitivity analysis
Wildfire
title Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model
title_full Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model
title_fullStr Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model
title_full_unstemmed Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model
title_short Low-variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using VIIRS data through radiative transfer model
title_sort low variance estimation of live fuel moisture content using viirs data through radiative transfer model
topic Fuel moisture content
Radiative transfer model
VIIRS
MODIS
Sensitivity analysis
Wildfire
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1569843224006691
work_keys_str_mv AT shuaiyang lowvarianceestimationoflivefuelmoisturecontentusingviirsdatathroughradiativetransfermodel
AT ruichen lowvarianceestimationoflivefuelmoisturecontentusingviirsdatathroughradiativetransfermodel
AT binbinhe lowvarianceestimationoflivefuelmoisturecontentusingviirsdatathroughradiativetransfermodel
AT yiruzhang lowvarianceestimationoflivefuelmoisturecontentusingviirsdatathroughradiativetransfermodel