Assessment of Secondary Mortality in Lodgepole Pine Stands in Yellowstone Park Using Landsat Data

Yellowstone National Park is one of the largest relatively untouched ecosystems lift in the Univers States. The fires in 1988 affected 45% of the park, providing the unique opportunity to explore disturbance and succession on a landscape scale. By mapping the extent of secondary mortality in lodgepole pine from stand replacement understory burns, we hope to document its role in the successional pathways of lodgepole pine ecology.

By examining Landsat images from 1988 and 1991, we are delineating changes in stand mortality. After quantifying and mapping secondary tree mortality from understory burns, we then can re-examine the 1988 data to see if there were indications that would predict the additional mortality.

Validation will be conducted using aerial photos and field transects. We will use a Chi Square test for a statistical assessment of the accuracy of the analysis. Upon completion we will then model the data to test the validity of the results.

This type of change detection assessment may prove to be useful in mapping future fires and evaluating fire extent and severity soon after fires occur.

Contact Information

Mail:	Dr. Hans R. Zuuring
	School of Forestry
	University of Montana
	Missoula, MT 59812