Evaluation of the fire-fighting potential of forest landscapes of the Baikal natural territory using thermal infrared information data (on the example of the territory of the Baikal-Lena Reserve)

DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2020-4-26-37-45

View or download the article (Rus)

About the Authors

Aleksey A. Medvedkov

Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov,
Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow, Russia,

Moscow State Regional University,
Vera Voloshina str., 24, 141014, Mytishchi, Moscow region, Russia,

E-mail: a-medvedkov@bk.ru

Maria V. Kotova

Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov,
Leninskie Gory, 1, 119991, Moscow, Russia,
E-mail: mariakot121212@gmail.com

Abstract

The article considers the experience of a comparative assessment of the fire potential fire-stop capability of different types of forests in the conditions of southern permafrost zone. The presented methodology is based on the processing of thermal infrared data from the Landsat TM satellite. On this basis, there were obtained surface temperatures for sites with different forest growing conditions and bioproduction characteristics. This approach has been tested on the example of modal landscapes of the Baikal-Lena State Nature Reserve, located in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory. The possibility of using surface temperatures to estimate the fire-fighting role of different types of forests is based on the equation of the heat balance of the earth’s surface. The thermal values obtained from the processing of thermal infrared images reflect the measure of the emission of sensible heat flux by the landscape. Near-surface temperatures vary by forest type. Forest types with the highest fire-fighting role are characterized by a higher moisture exchange potential and the lowest surface temperature values. It has been revealed that forests on permafrost have higher surface temperature values. Most fire vulnerable forest landscapes coincide with valleys of intermountain depressions, lowlands, bottom of bolsons, submontane uplands and smooth hillsides. Those have different degree of water-logged areas with islands of permafrost and low values of phytomass. Those nature complexes are more fire-dangerous in periods of long droughts due to lower transpiration potential and less influence on micro- and mesoclimat as compared with forest on unfrozen rocks. This technique has been tested in contrasting forest-growing areas of the boreal permafrost zone and can be applied in regions of Russia, Canada and the United States that are similar in terms of landscape and geographic characteristics. This approach can also be used to improve the fire safety systems in Russian forest reserves.

Keywords

natural fire hazard factors, forest burning, thermal infrared range, permafrost forest, Baikal natural territory

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For citation: Medvedkov A.A., Kotova M.V. Evaluation of the fire-fighting potential of forest landscapes of the Baikal natural territory using thermal infrared information data (on the example of the territory of the Baikal-Lena Reserve). InterCarto. InterGIS. GI support of sustainable development of territories: Proceedings of the International conference. Moscow: Moscow University Press, 2020. V. 26. Part 4. P. 37–45. DOI: 10.35595/2414-9179-2020-4-26-37-45 (in Russian)