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South Dakota State University

Fire Type Classification in the Brazilian Tropical Moist Forest Biome

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

<p>The Brazilian Tropical Moist Forest Biome (BTMFB) is “<em>Earth’s greatest biological treasure and a major component of the earth system</em>” and forest degradation and deforestation by fire is a serious issue in this region. Fires in the BTMFB can be broadly classified as maintenance, deforestation and forest fire types. Spatially and temporally explicit information on the incidences of fire types are important as they have widely varying atmospheric emissions and ecological impacts. Satellite based remote sensing is a practical means of monitoring the BTMFB that spans almost 4 million km2. However, there has been no way to reliably classify satellite active fire type to date. In this work, methods to characterize MODIS active fire detections are developed using physically based and geographic context/proximity approaches. The research methodology is developed by addressing four hypotheses concerning differences among active fire type characteristics including factors that drive and mediate fire in the BTMFB. Differences in the active fire characteristics among different fire types are presented and discussed. The spatio-temporal distribution of fire types over 8 year (2003-2010) period is documented, analyzed and presented. This dissertation has, to date, resulted in one published, one in press, and one submitted paper.</p>

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Level thesis:degree_level
Dissertation - Open Access
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Geospatial Science and Engineering
Year dc:date.available
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Sathyachandran, Sanath Kumar
Contributors dc:contributor
  • David P. Roy

Subjects

dc:subject × 3

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Copyright © 2014 Sanath Kumar Sathyachandran
Language dc:language
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1078
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-2078

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
South Dakota State University
Base URL
openprairie.sdstate.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Sathyachandran, Sanath Kumar. Fire Type Classification in the Brazilian Tropical Moist Forest Biome. Dissertation - Open Access thesis, 2014. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1078