Issues and Possible Improvements in Winter Fires Detection by Satellite Radiances Analysis: Lesson Learned in Two Regions of Northern Italy

Lombardy is a region of Northern Italy characterized by an alpine/continental climate, where, in winter, strong dry winds and scarce plants hydration frequently cause surface fires with a relatively low intensity level. In Liguria, a coastal region of Northwestern Italy, climate and vegetation conditions are different from Lombardy; in both winter and summer, severe forest fires frequently occur. This study is based on the investigation of winter fire regimes characterizing the aforementioned regions, using Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. In particular, we compare the RST-FIRES and the well-established MOD14/MYD14 fire detection products in order to assess their performance in detecting winter fires in Northern Italy. The study shows as a result that, despite the advantages offered by self-adaptive algorithms like RST-FIRES at local/regional scale, wildfires occurring in Lombardy during the winter season are challenging to identify by satellite. In Liguria region, where morphological and weather conditions favor flame propagation, they seem to be better detectable from space. This study aims at investigating issues affecting satellite monitoring of winter fires by encouraging the usage of a multiplatform observing system, integrating data provided by the Spinning Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) aboard Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) satellites, for better supporting fire management activities.