Validation of the 2008 MODIS-MCD45 global burned area product using stratified random sampling

The 2008 global burned area product MODIS-MCD45 was validated and accuracy measures were estimated globally and for several terrestrial biomes. Stratified random sampling was used to select 102 non-overlapping Thiessen scene areas (TSA) and reference fire perimeters were determined from two multi-temporal Landsat TM/ETM + images for each sampled TSA. Error matrices and six accuracy measures were chosen to satisfy criteria specified by end-users of burned area products. Globally, MODIS-MCD45 had estimated commission and omission error rates of 46% and 72% respectively, and a Dice coefficient of 0.37. Burned area extent tended to be underestimated as the MODIS product detected an estimated 48% of the burned area as determined from the reference data. The two biomes with highest accuracy were Boreal Forest and Tropical & Subtropical savanna, two of the most fire-prone biomes. In general, accuracy slightly improved in those areas where burned area was more prevalent.