Studies on forest fires using dmsp ols data

Studies related to forest fires are important in the context of trace gas emissions associated with such events. Much of the polar orbiting satellites due to their repetitive cycle have limitation in observing such events and in tropics due to cloud cover, the chance of getting cloud free image during day time becomes difficult. In order to explore the possibilities of using DMSP OLS night time data for monitoring such event, the present study has been under taken in Central Himalayan region of India where extensive fire event has been reported in May/June, 1995. The results of the study suggests the possibility of monitoring such events using DMSP OLS night time data.