Los focos de calor y los incendios forestales en la provincia Cienfuegos, Cuba

The use of satellite remote sensing, linked to Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and the subject of fires, is an important tool for forecasting, detecting, monitoring and studying the behavior of this phenomenon. The main objective of this work is to study the spatial behavior of the hot spots detected in the province of Cienfuegos, as well as to validate this information with forest fires that have occurred. The hot spots database of the National Institute of Spatial Research of Brazil in the period 2001-2016 and the historical data of forest fires of the province in the same period were used. The results showed the spatial behavior of the hot spots in the province, as well as the validation of these with forest fires detected on land. The results obtained contribute to the improvement of the heat source monitoring service as part of the Early Warning and Warning System of vegetation fires and show that although the use of satellite remote sensing does not prevent fires from arising, it does contribute to reduce significantly the negative impacts caused by fires to the economy, society and the environment.