Use of Landsat Space Images to Assess Wildfire Areas in the Dniester Delta in 2010-2020

Assessment of wildfire traces’ area using LANDS AT multispectral satellite images in the Dniester Delta as in general and on the territory of the Lower Dniester NNP in 2010 – 2020. Data and Methods. LandSat 7 and LandSat 8 multispectral satellite images of for 2010–2020 processed with ARCGIS software package have been used to assess the fire traces’ area. Results. Information on the areas of the wildfires observed in the entire Dniester Delta and on the territory of the Lower Dniester NNP annually from 2010 to 2020 has been presented, analyzed and discussed. Conclusions. It has been shown that maximal wildfire areas were observed in the Dniester Delta in 2019–2020 and 2015–2016, at that the burnt areas made 13010.6 hectares and 11092.8 hectares respectively, which made about 28% of the total Lower Dniester NNP territory. Minimal burnt down areas were registered in 2014–2015 – 326.2 hectares. Maximal wildfire areas were registered on the Lower Dniester NNP territory in 2015–2016 - 6049.2 hectares (28.4% of the NNP area). No wildfires were registered in the NNP in 2014–2015. The methodology of wildfires mapping using space images to establish the boundaries and areas of wildfire traces has been recommended, which in combination with field data facilitates objective assessment of environmental and economic damage from the wildfires on the territory of the nature reserve fund.