A reliability study of the lightning locating network in British Columbia

1987 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 1060-1065 ◽  
Author(s):  
David E. Gilbert ◽  
Bruce R. Johnson ◽  
Cedric Zala
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Lightning Strike ◽  
Mountainous Terrain ◽  
Data Preparation ◽  
Reliability Study ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Locating System

To combat the major problem of lightning-caused forest fires in British Columbia, the British Columbia Ministry of Forests operates a lightning locating system developed by Lightning Location and Protection Inc. As of 1985, this network consisted of 18 magnetic direction finders located throughout the province. Lightning strike data collected by the network over three fire seasons (1983–1985) were analyzed to estimate the distribution of lightning signal strength and the component detection efficiencies. The analysis was based on more than 165 000 lightning strike records. In the mountainous terrain of British Columbia, the detection efficiencies of the lightning sensors were found to be somewhat lower than earlier results obtained from similar networks in Florida and Oklahoma. Corrective actions have been taken on five detector sites found to have significantly worse than average detection efficiencies. A long-range program to improve the system by refurbishing with upgraded equipment and adding several new detector sites is under way. The statistical results vividly demonstrate the importance of archiving and analyzing the lightning strike data to provide comprehensive local-environment field tests. In future years the data preparation and analysis techniques will be implemented annually.

scholarly journals Dante’s kindling box

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-23
Author(s):  
Josiah Marquis ◽  
Meriem Benlamri ◽  
Elizabeth Dent ◽  
Tharmitha Suyeshkumar
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Biomass Burning ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Hazardous Air Pollutants ◽  
Area Burned ◽  
The Relationship

Almost half of the Canadian landscape is made up of forests, but the amount of forest surface area burned every year has been growing steadily since 1960.1 This can be problematic due to the effects that forest fires have not only on the local environment but also on the globe as a whole. A forest fire or vegetation fire is defined as any open fire of vegetation such as savannah, forest, agriculture, or peat that is initiated by humans or nature.2 Vegetation fires contribute heavily to air pollution and climate change and are in turn exacerbated by them as well. Air pollution increases due to emissions from these fires, which contain 90-95% carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide as well as methane and other volatile compounds.2 Emissions from forest fires also contribute to global greenhouse gases and aerosol particles (biomass burning organic aerosols),2 leading to indirect and direct consequences to human health. In contrast to biomass burning for household heating and cooking, catastrophic events of forest fires and sweeping grassland fires result in unique exposures and health consequences. In this case report, the relationship between environmental hazardous air pollutants and the potential physiological and psychological health effects associated with the forest fire that affected Fort McMurray, AB in May 2016 are considered.

Trace-Acid Ion Content of Shallow Snow and Ice Cores from Mountain Sites in Western Canada

1988 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 57-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Holdsworth ◽  
H.R. Krouse ◽  
E. Peake
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Time Series ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Time Series Data ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Snow And Ice

An historical record of the deposition of common acids is contained in snow and ice cores taken from suitable sites in the accumulation zone of certain glaciers. Spatial and time-series data sets for trace-mineral acids have been obtained from snow-pit samples and ice cores from a number of mountain sites in Alberta, British Columbia, and the Northwest and Yukon Territories. In Alberta, it is possible to use temperate firn sites above 3460 m, although elution occurs during certain summers as indicated by isotopic and ionic data. This would also apply to sites of a similar latitude (52°±2°N) in British Columbia. In the Yukon Territory (≥60.5°N) reliable time series for the acid anions may be obtained from sites at altitudes above 3000 m. Elution provides a natural control for demonstrating that field sampling and subsequent analytical procedures do not introduce significant contamination. The Yukon data are compared with the net annual accumulation rate and with altitude. Recent data from the 5340 m Mt Logan site do not indicate any significant increase in natural background levels of snow acidity. Lightning, which is responsible for numerous forest fires in all provinces, is a possible natural source of nitric acid. Spring-summer peaks in nitrate concentration usually occur. In addition, forest-fire smoke may be a significant contributor to the mountain snow-pack chemistry in some years and must be considered when interpreting the Mt Logan core data. One Yukon profile seems to contain the signature from the 1986 Augustine volcanic eruption.

Susceptibility of Western Conifers to Laminated Root Rot (Phellinus weirii) in Oregon and British Columbia Field Tests

1993 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 67-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. E. Nelson ◽  
Rona N. Sturrock
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Pinus Ponderosa ◽  
Ponderosa Pine ◽  
Root Rot ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Giant Sequoia ◽  
Phellinus Weirii

Abstract Several species of conifers were outplanted around infected stumps in Oregon and British Columbia to measure their susceptibility to laminated root rot caused by Phellinus weirii. Grand fir (Abies grandis) experienced nearly 30% mortality caused by P. weirii. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) mortality exceeded 20%. Noble fir (A. procera), Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) mortality averaged less than 10%. Western white pine (P. monticola) and lodgepole pine (P. contorta) mortality was less than 1%. Phellinus weirii did not cause mortality of western redcedar (Thuja plicata) or redwood (Sequoia sempervirens). Apparent susceptibility, based on mortality over 17-20 growing seasons, was similar to that recorded in past field observations. West. J. Appl. For. 8(2):67-70.

scholarly journals Population Health Effects of Air Quality Changes Due to Forest Fires in British Columbia in 2003

2006 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Moore ◽  
Ray Copes ◽  
Robert Fisk ◽  
Ruth Joy ◽  
Keith Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Quality Changes

Vertical gravity gradient surveys: Field results and interpretations in British Columbia, Canada

Geophysics ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 919-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles A. Ager ◽  
Jacques O. Liard
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Gravity Gradient ◽  
Mountainous Terrain ◽  
Coal Deposit ◽  
Vertical Gravity Gradient ◽  
Free Air ◽  
Vertical Gravity ◽  
Mining Exploration ◽  
Air Effect

Two vertical gravity gradient (VGG) surveys were completed by the authors during 1977 in British Columbia, Canada. The VGG method utilizes a LaCoste and Romberg model D gravity meter in conjunction with a small gradient tripod. The VGG method is practical under most field conditions using a 2 person crew and yields results precise to ±20 E or better. The VGG work indicates that the “free‐air” effect ranges between 2600–2800 E for southwestern British Columbia, which is somewhat lower than the theoretical value of 3086 E. The usefulness of the method in mining exploration is doubtful, especially in hilly or mountainous terrain where VGG values are shown to be very terrain sensitive. However, the importance of knowing the regional VGG variations is emphasized by the work over the Hat Creek coal deposit, British Columbia.

scholarly journals How much forest protection is needed?

1971 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-24
Author(s):  
J. Harry G. Smith
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Forest Protection ◽  
Improved Methods ◽  
Protection Costs

The need to develop improved methods for damage appraisal and a desire for better understanding of the economics of forest protection are illustrated with some data on forest fires in British Columbia. 1912-1968. Fire suppression and general protection costs have increased very rapidly in recent years and may already have exceeded a level that can be justified easily, economically.

SEX PHEROMONE COMPONENTS OF THE EYESPOTTED BUD MOTH, SPILONOTA OCELLANA (DENIS AND SCHIFFERMÜLLER) (LEPIDOPTERA: OLETHREUTIDAE)

1991 ◽  
Vol 123 (6) ◽  
pp. 1391-1394 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. McBrien ◽  
G. Gries ◽  
R. Gries ◽  
J.H. Borden ◽  
G.J.R. Judd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Sex Pheromone ◽  
Virgin Female ◽  
Field Tests ◽  
Monitoring And Control ◽  
Spectroscopic Analyses ◽  
Sex Pheromone Components ◽  
Pheromone Components ◽  
Tetradecenyl Acetate ◽  
And Control

AbstractZ8-tetradecenyl acetate (Z8-14OAc andZ8-tetradecenyl alcohol (Z8-14OH) were identified as sex pheromone components of the eyespotted bud moth, Spilonota ocellana (Denis and Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae). Compounds were identified by gas chrornatographic-eleclroantennographic (GC-EAD) and GC-mass spectroscopic analyses and field tested in apple orchards in the Okanagan Valley, B.C. Although Z8-14OAc alone was attractive to male S. ocellana, the addition of 1–5% Z8-14OH strongly synergized its attraction. Field tests comparing the attractiveness of virgin female S. ocellana with various doses of a 99:1 blend of Z8-14OAc and Z8-14OH indicated the natural sex pheromone has only two significant components. A 99:1 blend of Z8-14OAC and Z8-14OH is suggested for monitoring and control of S. ocellana populations in British Columbia.

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