The vast and diverse landscapes of the Indian subcontinent produce complex forest fire dynamics, further intensified by climate change. Fragile forest ecosystems (such as Himalayan, Western and Eastern ghat) are increasingly at risk, leading to significant ecological and atmospheric consequences. This presentation explores the spatio-temporal patterns of forest fires across India, examining their links to environmental and human factors. Using Earth Observation (EO) data, we estimate fire emissions and assess their impact on regional air pollution. Our findings highlight a strong correlation between burned areas and elevated levels of atmospheric pollutants, including CO, NO₂, SO₂, and particulate matter. We also investigate predictive models for fire occurrences along elevational gradients, emphasizing the need for targeted fuel management strategies. By tracking climate patterns and vegetation growth cycles and adopting data-driven approaches, effective fuel management can help mitigate fire risks, enhancing ecological resilience across India’s diverse forested landscapes.
Dr. Bar, a passionate Geospatial Science, and Earth Observation (EO) practitioner is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), US. With a PhD in Himalayan forest fire and its impact on forest degradation and regional atmospheric pollution, Dr. Bar aims to investigate the intricate relationship between terrestrial and atmospheric interactions, contributing to our understanding of long-term climate changes. Before joining UCI, Dr. Bar contributed to vegetation remote sensing and Copernicus land vegetation product validation projects at the University of Southampton, UK. His work is pivotal in advancing the field of EO and developing innovative approaches to studying environmental changes, ultimately contributing to more effective pathways in climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies.