Climate-Vegetation-Fire Interactions in Guinea: A Remote Sensing Perspective

Abstract

Guinea republic is characterized by a wide range of climates from humid coastal zones to savannas and forest massifs, with ecosystems whose dynamics are closely linked to rainfall variability. This study aims to integrate satellite-based rainfall (CHIRPS), vegetation dynamics (MODIS NDVI), and fire occurrence (AVHRR-LTDR burned area) to investigate climate–vegetation–fire interactions in Guinea, a region characterized by limited ground-based observations. The datasets considered were recorded during 2010-2018 period. To reach the goals the seasonal climatology, standardized anomalies, and correlation analysis were adopted. The results reveal a marked seasonal cycle: fires peak during the dry season when rainfall and NDVI are low, while the wet season promotes vegetation regrowth and reduces fires. A lag between rainfall peaks and the NDVI response was observed, attributable to cloud cover and soil moisture storage. Over the interannual period (2010-2018), NDVI shows a significant upward trend, fires decrease slightly, and rainfall shows no clear trend. Correlations between rainfall, vegetation, and fires are weak to moderate, suggesting the complementary influence of anthropogenic factors. This study highlights the importance of satellite data for monitoring Guinean ecosystems and demonstrates that rainfall variability plays a central role in vegetation dynamics and fire occurrence.  Overall, it provides an initial quantitative framework for ecosystem monitoring and fire-risk assessment using remote sensing. The findings of the research may be helpful for decision-makers of the region for doing the needful to prioritize safeguarding of natural resources related to vegetation and forest under climate change effects.