This paper presents a method to estimate fuel moisture content (FMC) of Mediterranean
vegetation species from satellite images in the context of fire risk assessment. The
relationship between satellite images and field collected FMC data was based on two
methodologies: empirical relations and statistical models based on simulated reflectances
derived from radiative transfer models (RTM). Both models were applied to the same
validation data set to compare their performance. FMC of grassland and shrublands were …

Moisture content of live fuels (LFMC) is one of the main factors determining fuel flammability
and, therefore, a key indicator of fire danger. In this study, we modeled the relationship
between spectral indices derived from satellite imagery and field estimations of LFMC in the
Chaco Serrano subregion; then, we analyzed the relationship between fire danger
estimations based on LFMC calculations and fire activity. Empirical LFMC models fitted for
grasslands, Chaco Serrano forests, and glossy privet forests may be considered very …