Occurrence frequencies and regional variations in Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) global active fires

Abstract

Active fires are considered to be the key contributor to, and critical consequence of, climate change. Quantifying the occurrence frequency and regional variations in global active fires is significant for assessing carbon cycling, atmospheric chemistry, and postfire ecological effects. Multiscale variations in fire occurrence frequencies have still never been fully investigated despite free access to global active fire products. We analyzed the occurrence frequencies of Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) active fires at national, pan-regional (tropics and extratropics) to global scales and at hourly, monthly, and annual scales during 2012-2017. The results revealed that the accumulated occurrence frequencies of VIIRS global active fires were up to 12,193 × 10 4 , yet exhibiting slight fluctuations annually and with respect to

Occurrence Frequencies and Regional Variations of Fire points in the southern China

“…Radiometer Suite) data products to analyze the spatiotemporal characteristics of global fires. The study found that the highest frequency of fires occurred in tropical regions, and they are mainly concentrated in July to September [14].…”

Swidden agriculture in transition and its roles in tropical forest loss and plantations expansion

“…However, the fact that shifting cultivation is still practiced in many extra-tropics regions including Europe, North America, Australia, North China and many other countries is problematic and unconvincing. Since shifting cultivation is one of the main causes of tropical active fires (Cochrane, 2003;Li, Xiao, Feng, Li, & Zhang, 2020) and shifting cultivators are typically poor ethnic minorities in remote uplands with limited accessibility , the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions and achievement of the SDGs will be impacted without accurate figures and maps for the land coverage of swidden agriculture.…”

“…Among them, the first two were preeminent in tropical regions particularly in the past two decades, which are always accompanied by frequent fire occurrence or biomass burning especially during the dry season. Anthropogenic fires not only occur in tropical upland and lowland agriculture, but also in tropical agriculture-forest frontiers (TAFF) (Li et al, 2020). In the uplands, vegetation fires are generally related to traditional practice of slash and burn (Cochrane, 2003), which acts as a key part of swidden agriculture.…”

Swidden agriculture in transition and its roles in tropical forest loss and industrial plantation expansion

“…However, the fact that shifting cultivation is still practiced in many extra-tropical regions including Europe, North America, Australia, North China and other countries is problematic. Shifting cultivation is one of the main causes of tropical bushfires (Cochrane, 2003;Li et al, 2020) and shifting cultivators are typically poor ethnic minorities in remote uplands with limited accessibility , such as the Hmong, Mien, Lisu, Lahu, and Akha, the estimation of greenhouse gas emissions and achievement of the SDGs will be hindered without accurate figures and maps for the land under of swidden agriculture.…”

“…Anthropogenic fires not only occur in tropical upland and lowland agriculture, but also in the tropical agriculture-forest frontiers (TAFF) (Li et al, 2020). In the uplands, vegetation fires are generally related to lightening wildfire and traditional practice of slash-and-burn (Cochrane, 2003).…”