Laxmi Goparaju from Vindhyan Ecology and Natural History Foundation (VENHF), along with Rama Chandra Prasad Pillutla from the Lab for Spatial Informatics, International Institute of Information Technology, and Suresh Babu Kukkala Venkata from the University of Alcala, have authored a research paper titled “Assessment of forest fire emissions in Uttarakhand State, India, using Open Geospatial data and Google Earth Engine” in the international journal Environmental Science and Pollution Research. The article can be accessed on the Springer platform. We congratulate the authors. A brief summary of the paper is provided below:
In the recent past, forest fires have increased due to the changing climate pattern. It is necessary to analyse and quantify various gaseous emissions so as to mitigate their harmful effects on air pollution. Satellite remote sensing data provides an opportunity to study the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The present study utilized the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform to study the emissions caused by forest fires in four districts of Uttarakhand State of India. The study quantified emissions such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and particulate matter. The results indicated that forest fires significantly contribute to atmospheric emissions, with variations across districts and years. The study demonstrates the usefulness of geospatial technology in monitoring forest fire emissions and highlights the need for effective management strategies to mitigate their environmental impacts.
