Google Earth Engine Map

For this project, I used datasets from the Google Earth Engine Data Catalog to create a map that highlights forests and their exposure to fires. The first dataset measures the GPP of the plants.

The Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) represents the rate at which an ecosystem's producers, primarily plants, convert solar energy into chemical energy in the form of organic compounds (e.g., sugars). It represents the total amount of carbon dioxide (CO₂) that is captured by plants during photosynthesis over a specific period of time.

The analysis covers the period from January 1, 2023, to January 1, 2024, offering an up-to-date view of forest productivity and fire exposure over the past year. This makes GPP a key indicator of ecosystem productivity, reflecting how much biomass is being produced by plants and thus indicating the health and functioning of the ecosystem.

In addition to the GPP dataset, I incorporated a dataset that provides information on the spatial extent and temporal distribution of burned areas. This dataset is essential for identifying regions affected by fire and assessing fire impacts on ecosystems.

By combining these datasets, the map aims to show the interplay between vegetation productivity and fire occurrence, providing insights into which forests are most vulnerable and exposed to fires.