Spatio-Temporal Trends of Fire in Slash and Burn Agriculture Landscape: A Case Study from Nagaland, India
Increasing incidences of fire from land conversion and residue burning in tropics is the major concern in global warming. Spatial and temporal monitoring of trends of fire incidences is, therefore, significant in order to determine contribution of carbon emissions from slash and burn agriculture. In...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2014-11-01
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| Series: | ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.isprs-ann-photogramm-remote-sens-spatial-inf-sci.net/II-8/53/2014/isprsannals-II-8-53-2014.pdf |
| Summary: | Increasing incidences of fire from land conversion and residue burning in tropics is the major concern in global warming. Spatial and
temporal monitoring of trends of fire incidences is, therefore, significant in order to determine contribution of carbon emissions from slash
and burn agriculture. In this study, we analyzed time-series Terra / Aqua MODIS satellite hotspot products from 2001 to 2013 to derive
intra- and inter-annual trends in fire incidences in Nagaland state, located in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Time-series regression
was applied to MODIS fire products at variable spatial scales in GIS. Significance of change in fire frequency at each grid level was tested
using t statistic. Spatial clustering of higher or lower fire incidences across study area was determined using Getis-OrdGi statistic. Maximum
fire incidences were encountered in moist mixed deciduous forests (46%) followed by secondary moist bamboo brakes (30%). In most
parts of the study area fire incidences peaked during March while in warmer parts (e.g. Mon district dominated by indigenous people) fire
activity starts as early as during November and peaks in January. Regression trend analysis captured noticeable areas with statistically
significant positive (e.g. Mokokchung, Wokha, Mon, Tuensang and Kiphire districts) and negative (e.g. Kohima and north-western part of
Mokokchung district) inter-annual fire frequency trends based on area-based aggregation of fire occurrences at different grid sizes.
Localization of spatial clusters of high fire incidences was observed in Mokokchung, Wokha, Mon,Tuensang and Kiphire districts. |
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| ISSN: | 2194-9042 2194-9050 |