Satellite Data Discrepancies: Burnt-Area Measurements Challenge Official Stubble Burning Reduction Claims
A study by research outfit iForest suggests that official 'fire counts' used to track stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana may be misleading. While government data claims a 90% reduction in fires since 2021, 'burnt-area' measurements show only a 30% decline. The discrepancy arises because satellites like Suomi-NPP (VIIRS) and Aqua (MODIS) only pass over India at specific times, missing fires that occur in the evening. Geostationary satellites like Meteosat, which provide data every 15 minutes, indicate that many fires happen outside the detection windows of polar-orbiting satellites, leading to significant undercounting of emissions.
Key Points
- Burnt-area measurements show a 30% decline in stubble burning, contrasting with the 90% reduction claimed via fire counts.
- Current satellite sensors like VIIRS and MODIS only capture active fires during specific daytime windows (10:30 AM to 1:30 PM).
- Small fires and those occurring in the evening are frequently missed by polar-orbiting satellites.
- The study recommends using 'burnt area' at a resolution of 100m by 100m as a more accurate proxy for agricultural fires.
Exam Facts
- iForest research outfit.
- Satellites used: Suomi-NPP (VIIRS), Terra and Aqua (MODIS), Sentinel (Multi-Spectral Instrument).
- Burnt area in 2022 was 31,500 sq. km compared to 19,700 sq. km in 2025.
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