Remote sensing as a tool for the prevention, monitoring and evaluation of fires and floods

Los incendios y las inundaciones son dos de los disturbios que más frecuentemente afectan a la población humana y a los recursos naturales. La teledetección, a través de sensores remotos activos y pasivos, constituye una herramienta muy útil para el desarrollo de sistemas de prevención, seguimiento y evaluación a diferentes escalas espaciales y temporales. En este trabajo se reseñan algunos de los principales avances logrados en el campo de la teledetección de áreas quemadas e inundadas, y en el análisis de sus condiciones predisponentes y de su dinámica posterior a la perturbación. Se ha dado especial énfasis en describir los alcances y las limitaciones de algunos productos derivados de la teledetección que ya están disponibles para los usuarios en general.Fires and floods are among the most frequent perturbations that negatively affect human societies and natural resources. The availability of prevention, monitoring and evaluation systems is therefore crucial to diminish their consequences. Active and passive remote sensing instruments are a valuable tool to achieve these goals because they provide information on different spatial and temporal scales. In this article we review the progress experienced in the field of remote sensing of burnt or flooded areas, its predisposing conditions and its post perturbation dynamics. Special emphasis is given to the description of the strengths and weaknesses of some of currently available remote sensing products.Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (CRN-2031 - US NSF GEO-0452325), el INTA (AERN4 y AERN4642) y el MINCyT (PICT 08-13931 y PICT No 32415)

Volcano collapse along the Aleutian Ridge (western Aleutian Arc)

Abstract. The Aleutian Ridge, in the western part of the Aleutian Arc, consists of a chain of volcanic islands perched atop the crest of a submarine ridge with most of the active Quaternary stratocones or caldera-like volcanoes being located on the northern margins of the Aleutian Islands. Integrated analysis of marine and terrestrial data resulted in the identification and characterization of 17 extensive submarine debris avalanche deposits from 11 volcanoes. Two morphological types of deposits are recognizable, elongate and lobate, with primary controls on the size and distribution of the volcanic debris being the volume and nature of material involved, proportion of fine grained material, depth of emplacement and the paleo-bathymetry. Volume calculations show the amount of material deposited in debris avalanches is as much as three times larger than the amount of material initially involved in the collapse, suggesting the incorporation of large amounts of submarine material during transport. The orientation of the collapse events is influenced by regional fault systems underling the volcanoes. The western Aleutian Arc has a significant tsunamigenic potential and communities within the Aleutian Islands and surrounding areas of the North Pacific as well as shipping and fishing fleets that cross the North Pacific may be at risk during future eruptions in this area

Volcano collapse along the Aleutian Ridge (western Aleutian Arc)

The Aleutian Ridge, in the western part of the Aleutian Arc, consists of a chain of volcanic islands perched atop the crest of a submarine ridge with most of the active Quaternary stratocones or caldera-like volcanoes being located on the northern margins of the Aleutian Islands. Integrated analysis of marine and terrestrial data resulted in the identification and characterization of 17 extensive submarine debris avalanche deposits from 11 volcanoes. Two morphological types of deposits are recognizable, elongate and lobate, with primary controls on the size and distribution of the volcanic debris being the volume and nature of material involved, proportion of fine grained material, depth of emplacement and the paleo-bathymetry. Volume calculations show the amount of material deposited in debris avalanches is as much as three times larger than the amount of material initially involved in the collapse, suggesting the incorporation of large amounts of submarine material during transport. The orientation of the collapse events is influenced by regional fault systems underling the volcanoes. The western Aleutian Arc has a significant tsunamigenic potential and communities within the Aleutian Islands and surrounding areas of the North Pacific as well as shipping and fishing fleets that cross the North Pacific may be at risk during future eruptions in this area

Changes in vegetation seasonality and livestock stocking rate in La Pampa Province (Argentina)

Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape.Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape

Changes in vegetation seasonality and livestock stocking rate in La Pampa Province (Argentina) = Cambios en la estacionalidad de la vegetación y la carga animal en la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina)

Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape.La producción de cultivos está atravesando procesos de expansión e intensificación alrededor de todo el planeta. En consecuencia, la producción ganadera está siendo desplazada hacia tierras marginales de menor capacidad de carga. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la estacionalidad de la vegetación en la provincia de La Pampa, ubicada en la región semiárida argentina; y explorar si las variaciones en la estacionalidad están relacionadas con la carga de ganado vacuno. Se plantea como hipótesis que los cambios en la carga animal y la presión de pastoreo alteran la proporción de diferentes grupos funcionales de vegetación, y de esta manera, su estacionalidad. Se predice que el sobrepastoreo de los pastos más estacionales alterará la proporción de especies leñosas, y ello repercutirá sobre los índices espectrales. Se analizó la información satelital, particularmente el Índice de Vegetación Mejorado (EVI) de MODIS y se lo relacionó con los registros de carga animal de SENASA. Este trabajo evidencia la relación entre la carga animal y el EVI, indicador de la productividad primaria de la vegetación, a la escala de departamento en las áreas naturales del Monte y el Espinal de La Pampa. Los resultados indican que al oeste de la provincia (Monte) hubo un aumento de la carga animal y una disminución de la estacionalidad de la vegetación a escala de departamento. La mayor presión de pastoreo habría conducido al sobrepastoreo de las especies herbáceas más palatables aumentando la proporción de arbustos en el paisaje.Instituto de Clima y AguaFil: Di Bella, Carlos Marcelo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información; ArgentinaFil: Beget, Maria Eugenia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; ArgentinaFil: Campos, Alfredo Nicolas. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional. Facultad Regional de Buenos Aires. Departamento de Electrónica; ArentinaFil: Viglizzo, Ernesto Francisco. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y Ambientales de La Pampa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Jobbagy Gampel, Esteban Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis "Prof. Ezio Marchi". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico, Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Alfredo Gabriel.Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Sycz, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; ArgentinaFil: Cotroneo, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; Argentin

Inversión de modelos de simulación de la reflectividad para la estimación del estado hídrico del combustible vivo en matorrales y pastizales de la Argentina

En este trabajo se explora la posibilidad de estimar el contenido de humedad de los combustibles vivos (FMC) a partir de la inversión de los modelos de simulación de la refectividad a nivel de hoja (PROSPECT) y a nivel de dosel (SAILH), la utilización de imágenes de satélite (sensor MODIS) e información auxiliar medida en campo. La metodología propuesta para llevar a cabo la inversión se basa en técnicas de clasificación supervisada de imágenes, así como en técnicas de regresión múltiple. Dichas metodologías fueron validadas en un total de 6 parcelas de matorral semiárido de la región fitogeográfica del Monte y 5 de pastizales subhúmedos de la Región Pampeana. Los resultados mostraron que el FMC puede ser estimado con precisión, tanto para el caso de las áreas de matorral semiárido (RMSE≈16%) como para el caso de los pastizales subhúmedos (RMSE≈10%), de manera operativa y sin necesidad de tener amplios conocimientos de programación.This paper explores the possibility of estimating Live Fuel Moisture Content (FMC) from the inversion of PROSPECT (leaf level) and SAILH (canopy level) Radiative Transfer Models, MODIS imagery and ancillary information measured on field. The methodology proposed for the inversion is based on image supervised classification as well as multiple regression techniques. These methodologies are validated in a total of six plots of shrubland from Monte region and five plots of humid temperate grasslands from Pampa region. The results show that FMC can be accurately and operatively retrieved without a deep knowledge of programming for both semiarid shrublands (RMSE≈16%) and sub-humid temperate grasslands (RMSE≈10%)

Changes in vegetation seasonality and livestock stocking rate in La Pampa Province (Argentina)

Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape.Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape

Changes in vegetation seasonality and livestock stocking rate in La Pampa Province (Argentina)

Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape.Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape

Changes in vegetation seasonality and livestock stocking rate in La Pampa Province (Argentina)

Fil: Di Bella, Carlos Marcelo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos (INTA-CIRN). Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Di Bella, Carlos Marcelo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos y Sistemas de Información. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Di Bella, Carlos Marcelo. CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Beget, María Eugenia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos (INTA-CIRN). Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Campos, Alfredo Nicolás. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos (INTA-CIRN). Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Campos, Alfredo Nicolás. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional (UTN). Facultad Regional Buenos Aires. Departamento de Electrónica. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Viglizzo, Ernesto F. CONICET. San Luis, Argentina.Fil: Viglizzo, Ernesto F. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional La Pampa – San Luis. San Luis, Argentina.Fil: Jobbágy, Esteban G. Universidad de San Luis. Grupo de Estudios Ambientales. San Luis, Argentina.Fil: Jobbágy, Esteban G. CONICET - Universidad de San Luis. Grupo de Estudios Ambientales. San Luis, Argentina.Fil: García, Alfredo Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos (INTA-CIRN). Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: García, Alfredo Gabriel. CONICET. Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Sycz, Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos (INTA-CIRN). Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.Fil: Cotroneo, Santiago Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Suelos (INTA-CIRN). Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, Argentina.La producción de cultivos está atravesando procesos de expansión e intensificación alrededor de todo el planeta. En consecuencia, la producción ganadera está siendo desplazada hacia tierras marginales de menor capacidad de carga. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la estacionalidad de la vegetación en la provincia de La Pampa, ubicada en la región semiárida argentina; y explorar si las variaciones en la estacionalidad están relacionadas con la carga de ganado vacuno.Se plantea como hipótesis que los cambios en la carga animal y la presión de pastoreo alteran la proporción de diferentes grupos funcionales de vegetación, y de esta manera, su estacionalidad. Se predice que el sobrepastoreo de los pastos más estacionales alterará la proporción de especies leñosas, y ello repercutirá sobre los índices espectrales. Se analizó la información satelital, particularmente el Índice de Vegetación Mejorado (EVI) de MODIS y se lo relacionó con los registros de carga animal de SENASA. Este trabajo evidencia la relación entre la carga animal y el EVI, indicador de la productividad primaria de la vegetación, a la escala de departamento en las áreas naturales del Monte y el Espinal de La Pampa. Los resultados indican que al oeste de la provincia (Monte) hubo un aumento de la carga animal y una disminución de la estacionalidad de la vegetación a escala de departamento. La mayor presión de pastoreo habría conducido al sobrepastoreo de las especies herbáceas más palatables aumentando la proporción de arbustos en el paisaje.tbls., grafs., mapa

Cambios en la estacionalidad de la vegetación y la carga animal en la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina)

Crop production is traversing expansion and intensification processes all over the planet and in consequence the large scale cattle production is being displaced to marginal lands with lower stocking capacity. The objective of this work was to assess the seasonality of vegetation in La Pampa province located in a semiarid region in Argentina and to explore if the variations in seasonality are related to the stocking rate. The hypothesis is the changes in stocking rate of rangelands and its grazing pressure alter the proportion of different vegetation functional groups and so the vegetation seasonality. It is predicted that overgrazing of seasonal grasses will alter the proportion of woody species having consequences over spectral indices. It was analyzed satellite data, particularly the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and related it to stocking rate records from SENASA. This work evidences the relationship between the stocking rate and the spectral index EVI, indicator of the primary productivity of vegetation, at departmental scale in the natural areas of Monte and Espinal of La Pampa. Results indicate that in western region (Monte) there was an increment in the stocking rate at department level and a decrease in vegetation seasonality. It is posed that the higher grazing pressure led to the overgrazing of the most palatable herbaceous species, increasing the shrub proportion in landscape.La producción de cultivos está atravesando procesos de expansión e intensificación alrededor de todo el planeta. En consecuencia, la producción ganadera está siendo desplazada hacia tierras marginales de menor capacidad de carga. El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la estacionalidad de la vegetación en la provincia de La Pampa, ubicada en la región semiárida argentina; y explorar si las variaciones en la estacionalidad están relacionadas con la carga de ganado vacuno. Se plantea como hipótesis que los cambios en la carga animal y la presión de pastoreo alteran la proporción de diferentes grupos funcionales de vegetación, y de esta manera, su estacionalidad. Se predice que el sobrepastoreo de los pastos más estacionales alterará la proporción de especies leñosas, y ello repercutirá sobre los índices espectrales. Se analizó la información satelital, particularmente el Índice de Vegetación Mejorado (EVI) de MODIS y se lo relacionó con los registros de carga animal de SENASA. Este trabajo evidencia la relación entre la carga animal y el EVI, indicador de la productividad primaria de la vegetación, a la escala de departamento en las áreas naturales del Monte y el Espinal de La Pampa. Los resultados indican que al oeste de la provincia (Monte) hubo un aumento de la carga animal y una disminución de la estacionalidad de la vegetación a escala de departamento. La mayor presión de pastoreo habría conducido al sobrepastoreo de las especies herbáceas más palatables aumentando la proporción de arbustos en el paisaje.Fil: Di Bella, Carlos Marcelo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Argentina)Fil: Beget, María Eugenia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Argentina)Fil: Campos, Alfredo Nicolás. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Argentina)Fil: Viglizzo, Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: Jobbágy, Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y TécnicasFil: García, Alfredo Gabriel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Argentina)Fil: Cotroneo, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Argentina