Post-Fire Soil Burn Severity (BARC) Mapping
Scientific generation of Burned Area Reflectance Classification (BARC) rasters directly from Sentinel-2 for post-wildfire emergency stabilization (BAER).
Run BurnScar Satellite Analysis
Select pre- and post-fire dates to compute calibrated dNBR rasters and vector perimeters.
BAER Standard
Compliant with US Forest Service & DOI Burned Area Emergency Response protocol.
Hydrophobic Threshold
Identifies critical zones where water repellency will cause debris torrents.
Narrow NIR Band 8A
Uses Band 8A (865nm) to avoid atmospheric water vapor absorption noise.
Standardized Burn Severity Classification
| Severity Class | dNBR Range | Ecological & Soil Impact |
|---|---|---|
| High Soil Severity (BARC 4) | BARC Index > 650 | Deep white/orange ash, complete soil organic loss, hydrophobic soil crust |
| Moderate Soil Severity (BARC 3) | BARC Index 440-650 | Gray/black ash, charred organic layer, partially water-repellent soil |
| Low Soil Severity (BARC 2) | BARC Index 130-439 | Surface litter charred, root structure fully intact, soil structure undamaged |
| Unburned (BARC 1) | BARC Index < 130 | Green needles/leaves on forest floor, natural soil porosity |
Multi-Spectral Processing Pipeline
Narrow NIR (Band 8A) Calibration
Substitute Band 8 with Band 8A (865nm) to maximize signal-to-noise ratio in rugged terrain.
BARC Scaling to 8-bit Integer
Scale continuous dNBR floating-point values into 0-255 standardized integer rasters.
Field Verification Thresholding
Calibrate digital thresholds with on-the-ground soil pit testing and hydrophobic soil tests.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a BARC map used for?+
BARC (Burned Area Reflectance Classification) maps are the primary starting point for Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams to plan culvert clearing, straw mulching, and hillside stabilization before winter storms.
Does vegetation burn severity always match soil burn severity?+
Not always. A fast-moving wind-driven crown fire can incinerate the tree canopy while leaving the ground organic layer relatively unburned. BARC mapping focuses specifically on ground and near-surface thermal alteration.
How fast can a BARC product be generated?+
In BurnScar, entering pre-fire and post-fire dates generates a complete calibrated BARC GeoTIFF in under 45 seconds.
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