The Effect of Needle-Leaved Species in Increasing the Risk of Fire by Using Remote Sensing, Case Study: Forests of Golestan, Iran

Abstract

The present research was conducted to determine the sensitivity of needle-leaved species compared to broad-leaved in causing a natural fire in Golestan province. Vegetation and moisture stresses of plants were studied in both needle and mixed leaved forest the fire occurred in 2010-2014. In order to examine the normal condition of each indicator, the time series was produced from 2000 to 2015. The threshold of the applied indicators was determined using its long-term normal. The threshold value was determined as an average of 15 days before the fire, as well as on the day before the fire. The results showed that the amount of dry matter increased in the affected areas and the plants were exposed to moisture stress. Among the indicators used in this study, GVMI shows more sensitivity to fire rather than other indicators with a higher nominal frequency. In the broadleaf forest of (1.803) and in the forest forests (1.63), there is a decrease compared to the time series. Generally, these needle-leaved species have a lower tolerance to moisture stress than the broadleaf.