Sentinel-2 dNBR Burn Severity Mapping
Scientific methodology, spectral formulas, and cloud processing architecture for computing Difference Normalized Burn Ratio using Sentinel-2 MSI bands.
Run BurnScar Satellite Analysis
Select pre- and post-fire dates to compute calibrated dNBR rasters and vector perimeters.
B8 Center Wavelength
Near-Infrared band detecting leaf cellular structure and chlorophyll reflectance.
B12 Center Wavelength
Shortwave-Infrared band absorbing strongly in dry ash, charred carbon, and exposed soil.
Quantization
Radiometric resolution of surface reflectance scaled between 0 and 10,000.
Standardized Burn Severity Classification
| Severity Class | dNBR Range | Ecological & Soil Impact |
|---|---|---|
| High Severity | dNBR > 0.660 | Over 80% canopy mortality, severe char on trunk bark, mineral soil alteration |
| Moderate Severity | 0.270 to 0.659 | Understory completely burned, canopy needles scorched brown but not consumed |
| Low Severity | 0.100 to 0.269 | Light surface scorch, ground fuel consumed, minimal canopy damage |
| Unburned / Regrowth | < 0.100 | No fire effect observed or rapid post-fire herbaceous green-up |
Multi-Spectral Processing Pipeline
Band Extraction & Cloud Masking
Isolate Band 8 and Band 12 rasters, applying Scene Classification Layer (SCL) bitmasks.
NBR Normalization
Compute normalized indices for both dates: NBR = (Float(B8) - Float(B12)) / (Float(B8) + Float(B12)).
Differential Subtraction
Subtract post-fire raster from pre-fire raster and apply phenology offset calibration.
Vector Polygonization
Convert continuous raster severity values into discrete vector zones with perimeter geometry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Band 12 preferred over Band 11 for NBR?+
Band 12 (2190nm) shows much stronger absorption for charcoal and scorched carbon than Band 11 (1610nm), providing a higher contrast ratio against healthy canopy.
When should RdNBR be used instead of dNBR?+
Relativized dNBR (RdNBR) is recommended in sparse or heterogeneous landscapes (such as dry shrublands or savanna) where pre-fire biomass was already low.
How do you handle phenological changes between seasons?+
BurnScar samples control pixels in unburned adjacent areas to compute an offset correction factor, eliminating natural seasonal leaf-off bias.
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