The 1998 forest fires in East Kalimantan (Indonesia): A quantitative evaluation using high resolution, multitemporal ERS-2 SAR images and NOAA-AVHRR hotspot data

Boosted by the 1997/98 El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena, uncontrolled fires have destroyed huge areas of rainforest and bush land in Indonesia. Thick smoke covered large areas over SE Asia for months. Due to their cloud and haze penetrating capability SAR sensors could complement existing fire monitoring systems based on NOAA-AVHRR data, providing a 900 times higher spatial resolution. This article describes results of the combined synergistic use of NOAA-AVHRR hotspot data received and processed by the IFFM/GTZ project and multitemporal ERS-2 SAR images for burned scar mapping in the province of East Kalimantan. Burned areas detected by ERS were verified using AVHRR sensor hot spot data and extensive field surveys during the fire season in April 1998. Furthermore, a vegetation classification discerning five classes was derived from the ERS-2 SAR images and compared to the mapped burned scars. The total burned area of the test site is estimated to be 1.3 mil ha out of 1.85 mil ha (71%). (C)Elsevier Science Inc., 2000.