Abstract ID: 3.13240 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Elucidating the interplay of meteorological parameters including air temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation across the fire stages is imperative for assessing fire behaviour, burn severity and fire emissions. In this context, the study investigates the influence of pre-fire, during-fire and post-fire meteorological conditions on fire intensity, occurrence and emissions in the Northwestern Himalayan region of India, particularly Uttarakhand. To achieve this, ERA5 Land meteorological variables, MODIS and VIIRS fire data, Tropomi trace gas [NO2, O3, CO and SO2 and Aerosol Absorption Index (AAI)], MAIAC AOD data, from Jan to Jun 2024, are utilized to analyse the meteorology and air quality over the region. Furthermore, to assess the impact of burn severity on vegetation cover and fuel moisture level, indices such as NBR, dNBR, NDMI, dNDMI, NDVI and dNDVI are calculated for the fire stages. The analysis revealed various levels of burn severity, moisture changes, and vegetative health changes resulting from fire events. The dNBR values indicate high burn severity, concomitant with a loss of fuel moisture and a significant reduction in vegetation health across the region. Elevated AAI values (0.5 to 0.8) and AOD values (0.5 to 1.5) during active fire days underscore the presence of absorbing aerosols, including black carbon and dust particles, contributing to degraded air quality.