Estimating fuel moisture content of forests with MODIS data

Fuel moisture content (FMC) is an important parameter in determining the fire risk and fire behavior. In order to get FMC effectively and quickly, here SWIR (shortwave infrared) and NIR(near infrared), NIR and red band reflectance of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) were used to retrieve FMC at the canopy level in Wusutu Forest Zone, Inner Mongolia. And the data measured in the field in 2004 and 2005 were used to validate this method. It was found that SWIR and NIR band reflectance can estimate FMC better, and its R² can reach 0.36. Though it is a little smaller than that of grassland and bush, this method still can provide efficient estimation of spatial distribution of FMC, so it is useful in forecasting the forest fire behavior of large area.