Estimation of live fuel moisture content from MODIS Images for fire danger assessment in southern Gran Chaco

Moisture content of live fuels (LFMC) is one of the main factors determining fuel flammability and, therefore, a key indicator of fire danger. In this study, we modeled the relationship between spectral indices derived from satellite imagery and field estimations of LFMC in the Chaco Serrano subregion; then, we analyzed the relationship between fire danger estimations based on LFMC calculations and fire activity. Empirical LFMC models fitted for grasslands, Chaco Serrano forests, and glossy privet forests may be considered very accurate R2 > 0.80, whereas the model corresponding to shrublands still needs to be improved (R2 = 0.57). Monthly maps of fire danger reflected the occurrence of fires consistently during years of both high and low fire activity. Most fires occurred mainly in areas with high or extreme fire danger, demonstrating a clear relationship between LFMC and fire activity in the Chaco Serrano subregion. Our LFMC models may be useful to assess the spatiotemporal distribution of fire danger in the Chaco Serrano subregion using remote sensing data. The associated fire danger maps represent a valuable tool for improving decision making processes to organize early warning and fire suppression activities.Fil: Argañaraz, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Landi, Marcos Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; ArgentinaFil: Bravo, Sandra Josefina. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales; ArgentinaFil: Gavier Pizarro, Gregorio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Scavuzzo, Carlos Marcelo. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales. Instituto de Altos Estudios Espaciales ; ArgentinaFil: Bellis, Laura Marisa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal; Argentin