Abstract
There has been considerable interest in the recent literature regarding the assessment of post-fire effects on
forested areas within the North American boreal forest. Assessing the physical and ecological effects of fire in boreal
forests has far-reaching implications for a variety of ecosystem processes – such as post-fire forest succession – and land
management decisions. The present paper reviews past assessments and the studies presented in this special issue that
have largely been based on the Composite Burn Index and differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR). Results from
relating and mapping fire/burn severity within the boreal region have been variable, and are likely attributed, in part, to
the wide variability in vegetation and terrain conditions that are characteristic of the region. Satellite remote sensing of
post-fire effects alone without proper field calibration should be avoided. A sampling approach combining field and image
values of burn condition is necessary for successful mapping of fire/burn severity. Satellite-based assessments of fire/burn
severity, and in particular dNBR and related indices, need to be used judiciously and assessed for appropriateness based
on the users’ need. Issues unique to high latitudes also need to be considered when using satellite-derived information in
the boreal forest region.
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