PARENT SESSION
Contributed Oral Session 138: Fire and Vegetation Dynamics
Thursday, August 11, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 519 B, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Structural/functional analysis of a Mediterranean burned area by multitemporal hyperspectral data.
Allegrini, Alessia*,1, Bajocco, Sofia*,1, Mandrone, Stefania*,1, 1 CNR – Atmospheric Pollution Institute, Monterotondo Stazione, Rome, Italy
ABSTRACT- Fire has a powerful influence on ecosystem dynamics and function across a large variety of biomes. Furthermore, fire-induced changes in ecosystem functioning and in plant species composition is one of the most critical issues in global change, causing environmental damages: biomass loss, deforestation, greenhouse gases increase, landscape alteration, soil degradation, desertification, etc.. During the last decade the extent of burned areas and the frequency of fires are increasing in many Mediterranean-type ecosystems, that are strongly shaped by the fire regime. Mediterranean climate is characterized by drought and hot summer, which promotes wildfires and enhances human- induced fires impact. Mediterranean-type ecosystems are generally recognized as resilient to fire, because many species are able to survive or reestablish after the event. However a shift in species composition and structure may occur with changes in the fire regime. The aim of this work is to characterize vegetation in terms of structural and functional dynamics during the post-fire period. In this perspective, our study area is Castel Fusano Park (Rome, Italy), characterized by stone pine and holm oak wood, with a typical Mediterranean maquis, and partially destroyed by a severe fire in July 2000. We used multitemporal remote sensed images to monitor vegetation recovery. In particular, the analysis of vegetation indices (such as NDVI, NBR, etc.) and classification techniques on airborne MIVIS (Multispectral Infrared and Visible Imaging Spectrometer) images, allowed to investigate the structural and functional characteristics of Mediterranean coenosis in the Castel Fusano Park.
Key words: fire, remote sensing, MIVIS, vegetation index