Abstract
A forest fire occured on the border between China and Russia in 1987. The burnt area in China was calculated to be 11, 744 km2 and the total burnt area (in China and Russia) 69, 772 km2 using NOAA/AVHRR data.
Regeneration of vegetation in burnt areas was analyzed using NOAA/AVHRR data for 1986-1991. The burnt areas were classified into three areas: severely burnt areas, moderatly burnt areas and lightly burnt areas. The Vegetation Index, surface temperature and regression coefficient between Vegetation Index and surface temperature were calculated for those three burnt areas and non burnt areas (forest areas). Seasonal and yearly changes of the Vegetation Index, surface temperature and regression coefficient for 1986-1991 were analyzed.
It was confirmed by yearly changes that the Vegetation Index increased, the difference in temperature between burnt area and forest area decreased and the absolute value of regression coefficient increased. It was possible, therefore, to estimate the regeneration period for burnt areas using yearly change of the Vegetation Index, surface temperature and regression coefficient. The regeneration period for the severely burnt area were estimated to be ten years by the Vegetation Index, thirteen years by surface temperature and sixteen years by regression coefficient.
