Satellites could soon help predict wildfires from space thanks to ground-breaking research at the University of Canterbury.
It comes as the region has experienced several out of control blazes over the past few months.
PHD student Kate Melnik has been a firefighter in both Canada and New Zealand.
“I saw first-hand how important the vegetation condition is to the way wildfires behave, so now I get to burn gorse three times a day and study it further.”
Every aspect of the fire test is monitored and measured to help predict wildfires in the future.
“What areas are very flammable, what areas are likely to catch fire, and how that fire might behave,” she said.
Moisture content has a huge effect on the intensity of how a plant burns, with smaller leaves having more dry material.
The goal is to use this research to better predict wildfire behaviour, to predict where and when, and how intensely wildfires burn.
The next step is using satellites with sensors to identify at-risk areas from orbit.
Senior lecturer Andres Valencia said having a map of fire risk in the future would help decision makers.
"Wildfires are affecting communities not just in New Zealand, but around the world. I believe research like this can help reduce the consequences of wildfires.”
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