Description

From the Summary (p.420) ... '1. Fires result in dramatic changes in wide range of surface characteristics, including changes in surface reflectance, temperature, and moisture. These changes result in alterations to the signatures detected in all wavelength regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, including the visible, near-, shortwave, and thermal infrared, and microwave regions.2. Fires affect large areas of forest in very remote regions, making it difficult (if not impossible) to completely survey the effects of fires by using ground-based measurements alone.3. Because of temporal dynamics, it is difficult, if not impossible, to monitor fires and their effects by using ground-based monitoring approaches alone. In some years, there is relatively little fire activity, whereas in others, fires occur frequently. The repetitive nature of satellite data collection provides a means for efficient as well as cost-effective monitoring of these sporadic events.' © 2000 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.