Web-Based Tool for Rapid Burn Intensity Estimates Using VIIRS NDVI

There is a need for timely burn intensity estimates. When wildland fires rage across the landscape they can destabilize the soil by converting trees and vegetation to ash and debris. In areas with hilly or mountainous terrain, ensuing rainstorms can generate flash floods, debris flows, and mudslides. In states prone to large wild fires, these post-fire hazards can have catastrophic effects with loss of life and property close at hand and even far downstream. National Weather Service (NWS) hydrologists at Weather Forecasting Offices (WFOs) can utilize GIS (geographic information systems) with inputs such as terrain, land cover, burn intensity estimates, and meteorological forecasts to focus the attention of WFO staff and emergency managers on areas of potential risk and support the WFO mission of issuing hazard warnings. Burn intensity estimates created from satellite imagery are often an essential piece of information that is used to support on-the-ground assessments risk. However, timely burn intensity estimates are sometimes not readily available. The proposed work intends to bridge this gap.

Researchers and programmers are working with a NWS-WFO end-user to design, build, and test a web-based dashboard for rapidly producing post-fire Burn Intensity Delta Greenness Estimation (BRIDGE) maps. The dashboard will help NWS-Weather Forecasting Offices improve their post-fire flash flood and debris flow hazard situational awareness, forecasts, and warnings by integrating SNPP and NOAA-20 VIIRS-derived information into their workflows.

The example image shows the difference between VIIRS NDVI on 20:43Z September 28, 2016 (pre-burn) and 20:41Z on September 26, 2017 (post-burn). Blue regions indicate reductions in NDVI following the Norse Peak Wildfire.