Vivchar, A (2011). Wildfires in Russia in 2000-2008: estimates of burnt areas using the satellite MODIS MCD45 data. REMOTE SENSING LETTERS, 2(1), 81-90.

Abstract
Fire activity in Russia in 2000-2008 was analysed on the basis of the newest satellite MODIS MCD45 Burned Area data. The estimated annual burned areas exhibited strong variability in magnitude, geographical location and affected vegetation, varying in total from 5.4 Mha in 2000 to 33.0 Mha in 2008. The total area burned in 2000-2008 in forests and woodlands ( the areas with percent tree canopy cover > 40%) was 43.4 Mha, of which about 90% was burned in the eastern Siberia and the Far East, and 53% was burned during the large fire years 2003 and 2008. The forest burned areas were mainly localized within 50-55 degrees N, approximately along the southern edge of the area of boreal forests. The reliability of the resultant estimates was tested by comparison with the known early published results. Some applications of the results in problems of atmospheric composition and air quality are also discussed.

DOI:
2150-704X

ISSN:
10.1080/01431161.2010.499138