A qualitative approach to the mapping of post-fire regrowth in Mediterranean vegetation with Landsat TM data

Abstract

This Letter describes a method for using Landsat Thematic Mapper ( TM) data to monitor vegetation growth on a large burnt area in northern Sardinia. Five different vegetational classes, characteristic of the Mediterranean region are described in which green biomass increased from the herbaceous to the arbustive and arboreal. For each class the values of the infrared index II ( TM4— TM5)( TM4-f-TM5 ) were calculated. The ability of this index to enhance green biomass differences made it appropriate to the monitoring of post-fire regrowth.