Evaluation of the intensity of burning in the Mersin-Silifke (2025) forest fires using spectral indices with Sentinel-2 images.
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: The rapid and accurate detection of the effects of fires threatening forest ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin is of vital importance for post-fire rehabilitation processes. In this study, the intensity of forest fires that occurred in Mersin-Silifke in 2025 was analyzed using Sentinel-2 satellite data and a multispectral index approach (dNBR, RBR, dSAVI). Difference maps obtained by processing pre- and post-fire images were classified according to USGS standards, and spatial changes were calculated. According to the analysis results, a total area of 7933.64 hectares was affected by the fire, and the burn intensity was predominantly concentrated in the “Low” and “Medium-Low” classes. When comparing index performances, it was found that the dNBR and RBR indices produced parallel results, but the soil-corrected dSAVI index showed higher sensitivity to biomass loss. Indeed, while the RBR index could not detect the “Medium-High Severity” class in the field, the soil-corrected dSAVI index showed an area of 658.39 hectares (8.3%) in this class in the same field. dSAVI modeled burn intensity more clearly than dNBR and RBR, especially in areas with maquis formations. In areas with sparse vegetation cover, it is recommended to use different indices that incorporate soil cover, such as dSAVI, rather than relying on a single index.
Author: İlter Kutlu Hatipoğlu
Institution: Samsun University
Language: Turkish
Topic: Fire effects on ecosystems
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Climate action
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7166312422