Burn indices from Landsat 8 : Restrictions on Its Application

Authors

Abstract

This study aims to understand the widely potential use of burn indices; Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR), Normalized Burn Ratio Thermal (NBRT), Burn Area Index (BAI), Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR), and Relative differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (RdNBR). Landsat 8 imageries recorded in March and April 2016, the peak of burning period in Mae Hong Son Province are investigated. Three aspects were analyzed; 1) the accuracy or consistency of mapping burned area compared to the reference burned area in 2016 reported by Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organization) or GISTDA 2) the burn severity and 3) the identification of burn impacted land uses/land covers. Results from this study show that NBR and RdNBR had higher corresponded (around 60%) to the reference than other burned indices. Five burn severity levels; Enhanced Regrowth, Unburnt, Low Severity, Moderate Severity and High Severity were identified clearly by dNBR. Although RdNBR could be used to classify 5 level of burn severity, but some overlapping between classes were found. Other indices may applicable in separating burn and unburnt areas but they have poor classification ability on burn severity levels. Identifying burnt impacted areas, RdNBR presented the most reliable differentiation of water bodies and built-up and others in compare with other indices. The results from this study can be benefit to those interested researchers and related agencies in selecting the suitable identification of burn index for further use or developing techniques. Keywords :  burn Index ; Landsat 8 ; Mae Hong Son ; dNBR ; RdNBR

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Published

2021-06-01