Transitioning operational satellite grassland curing from MODIS to VIIRS

Danielle Wright; Leon Majewski

doi:10.1071/WF22227

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Previous Next Contents Vol 32(10)

Transitioning operational satellite grassland curing from MODIS to VIIRS

Danielle Wright ^A ^* and Leon Majewski ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Research and Development, Fire Risk Research and Community Preparedness Department, Country Fire Authority, Burwood East, Vic., Australia.

^B Satellite Science, Science and Innovation Group, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Docklands, Vic., Australia.

^* Correspondence to: Danielle.Wright@cfa.vic.gov.au

International Journal of Wildland Fire 32(10) 1438-1454 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF22227
Submitted: 20 December 2022 Accepted: 15 August 2023 Published: 13 September 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

In Australia, grassland curing (senescence) is an essential component in fire danger calculations. In seven (out of eight) states/territories in Australia, operational curing data are derived from the MapVictoria satellite model. From 2013 to 2023, MapVictoria data have been calculated using MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from the Terra satellite. Terra has exceeded its designed mission lifetime, but the continuation of satellite curing data is crucial for fire agencies to continue fire danger calculations.

Aims

The aim of this study was to adjust the MapVictoria model so it could be calculated using a newer satellite sensor system: Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).

Methods

Data from the VIIRS bands were adjusted to match those of MODIS using timeseries from 2013 to 2020. The adjusted VIIRS bands were used to derive a VIIRS curing model: ‘viirs-mvcuring’.

Key results

The viirs–mvcuring model exhibited lower curing estimates than MODIS by up to 2.6% in Northern sites and 1.4% in Southern sites and exhibited lower curing estimates than ground-based curing by 0.1% in Northern sites and 3.5% in Southern sites.

Conclusions

The development of the viirs–mvcuring model has ensured continued availability of satellite curing data.

Implications

The transition to VIIRS will provide continued input of curing into fire danger calculations across Australia.

Keywords: AFDRS, Australia, fire danger, grassland curing, MODIS, satellite, spectral band adjustment, VIIRS.

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