Spatio-Temporal Characterization of Agriculture Residue Burning in Punjab and Haryana, India, Using MODIS and Suomi NPP VIIRS Data

Agriculture residue (in the form of stubble) burning is commonly practised in the northern states of India along the Indian part of the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP), predominantly in the states of Punjab and Haryana. In the present study, we characterize spatio-temporal patterns of stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana states of India, using active fire data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership - Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (Suomi NPP-VIIRS) for kharif cropping season (September- November) 2014. Analysis of active fire locations derived from MODIS and VIIRS during September-November 2014 suggest intense practice of stubble burning in the study area with total fire detections going up to 15,222 (MODIS) and 15,568 (VIIRS). Comparative analysis of MODIS and VIIRS active fire detections suggested that VIIRS is more sensitive with higher detection capability. Further, grid-based (5 × 5 km) analysis of fire patterns, viz. total fire detections, fire frequency and total fire intensity using temporal (kharif season for 2004-2014) MODIS active fire locations suggest intense burning activity in the central and southern districts of Punjab during the study period. Temporal analysis of MODIS active fire locations (2004-2014) suggests a transition of decrease-to-increase in the total number of fire detections during October to November respectively, during 2004 through 2014.