Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Forest fire risk is rising with climate warming, highlighting the need for timely monitoring and early warning. Satellite-based monitoring, currently a primary tool in remote sensing for fire detection, suffers from spatiotemporal gaps due to limited resolution and cloud cover. This study developed a novel smoke detection technology using operational S-band dual-polarization weather radar. By analyzing six forest fire cases in Zhejiang Province, China (2023), we established a filtering method using dual-polarization parameters, with thresholds set to a differential reflectivity (ZDR) ≥ 3 dB and a cross-correlation coefficient (ρHV) ≤ 0.7. This method effectively isolates fire-related echoes and, compared with geostationary satellites, enables more continuous monitoring; it also detects small and early-stage fires. Furthermore, radar-derived fire perimeters closely match satellite imagery, demonstrating its potential for real-time fire-spread tracking. The high spatiotemporal resolution and multi-parameter advantages of dual-polarization radar can complement satellite observations, offering vital support for early warning and real-time decision-making in fire management.
Source: Forests
DOI: 10.3390/f16091471
Authors: Mengfei Jiang, Miao Bai, Zhonghua He, Gaofeng Fan, Minghao Tang, Zhuoran Liang
Institution: Zhejiang Meteorological Bureau
Language: English
Subfield: Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Climate action, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4414297219