scholarly journals Surface fire spread potential in trembling aspen during summer in the Boreal Forest Region of Canada

2010 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 200-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin E Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Behavior Prediction ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Fuel Type ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
Forest Fire Danger

In Canada, the importance of seasonality in forest fire danger rating associated with phenological changes in deciduous tree leaves and lesser ground vegetation has historically been taken into account by dividing the fire season into three distinct periods (i.e., spring, summer, and fall). During the mid-1980s, the developers of the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System did not envision that the M-2 Boreal Mixedwood – Green fuel type with 100% hardwood composition would eventually be explicitly interpreted by field users and other researchers to represent a trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) fuel type in the summer following green-up or flushing of the overstory canopy and understory vegetation. Interest in what has become to be known as the D-2 FBP System fuel type to represent leafed-out trembling aspen stands during the summer fire season has steadily increased since. Formal recognition of such a fuel type may very well constitute an example of overextending the original basis and heuristics associated with the rate of fire spread model for the M-2 FBP System fuel type. Thus, the assumptions underlying a D-2 fuel type are explicitly restated here for the benefit of fire managers and researchers alike. Furthermore, an interim guideline is presented with respect to the threshold condition in fuel dryness necessary for surface fire spread in the D-2 fuel type to occur based on existing empirical observations garnered from experimental fires, prescribed burns and wildfires. This criterion was deduced from existing information and knowledge, and is expressed in terms of the Buildup Index (BUI) component of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System. The rationale for the descriptive name assigned to the D-2 fuel type and the corresponding fuel strata characteristics are given. Improvements in the present basis of the D-2 fuel type could be realized from monitoring selected wildfires and operational prescribed fires and/or by carrying out an experimental burning study. Key words: Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System,Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System,Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System,deciduous,fire behavior, fire danger, fire environment, fire hazard, fire potential, fire risk, forest flammability, fuel type, fuel moisture, green-up, hardwood, rate of fire spread.

scholarly journals Temporal variations and change in forest fire danger in Europe for 1960–2012

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1477-1490 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Venäläinen ◽  
N. Korhonen ◽  
O. Hyvärinen ◽  
N. Koutsias ◽  
F. Xystrakis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
National Level ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
Current Season ◽  
Forest Fire Danger

Abstract. Understanding how fire weather danger indices changed in the past and how such changes affected forest fire activity is important in a changing climate. We used the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI), calculated from two reanalysis data sets, ERA-40 and ERA Interim, to examine the temporal variation of forest fire danger in Europe in 1960–2012. Additionally, we used national forest fire statistics from Greece, Spain and Finland to examine the relationship between fire danger and fires. There is no obvious trend in fire danger for the time period covered by ERA-40 (1960–1999), whereas for the period 1980–2012 covered by ERA Interim, the mean FWI shows an increasing trend for southern and eastern Europe which is significant at the 99% confidence level. The cross correlations calculated at the national level in Greece, Spain and Finland between total area burned and mean FWI of the current season is of the order of 0.6, demonstrating the extent to which the current fire-season weather can explain forest fires. To summarize, fire risk is multifaceted, and while climate is a major determinant, other factors can contribute to it, either positively or negatively.

Changes in forest fire danger for south-western China in the 21st century

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-rui Tian ◽  
Feng-jun Zhao ◽  
Li-fu Shu ◽  
Ming-yu Wang
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Western China ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
Forest Fire Danger ◽  
Extreme Fire

This paper predicts future changes in fire danger and the fire season in the current century for south-western China under two different climate change scenarios. The fire weather index (FWI) system calculated from daily outputs of a regional climate model with a horizontal resolution of 50×50km was used to assess fire danger. Temperature and precipitation demonstrated a gradually increasing trend for the future. Forest fire statistics for 1987–2011 revealed that the FWI, initial spread index and seasonal severity rating were significantly related to the number of forest fires between 100 and 1000ha in size. Over three future periods, the FWI component indices will increase greatly. The mean FWI value will increase by 0.83–1.85, 1.83–2.91 and 3.33–3.97 in the periods 2011–2040, 2041–2070 and 2071–2100. The regions with predicted FWI increases are mainly in central and south-eastern China. The fire season (including days with high, very high and extreme fire danger ratings) will be prolonged by 9–13, 18–21 and 28–31 days over these periods. This fire season extension will mainly be due to days with an extreme fire danger rating. Considering predicted future changes in the forest fire danger rating and the fire season, it is suggested that climate change adaptation measures be implemented.

scholarly journals Improvement of fire danger rating and vegetation fire behaviour prediction on protected areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 00040
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Volokitina ◽  
Dina Nazimova ◽  
Tatiana Sofronova ◽  
Mikhail Korets
Keyword(s):  
Protected Areas ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Nature Reserves ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Behavior Prediction ◽  
Forest Fire Danger ◽  
Economic Use

Protected areas (PAs) are established to conserve biological diversity, to maintain nature complexes and objects in their natural condition. Strict nature reserves prevail in Russia by their total area. The whole nature complex is forever extracted from economic use in nature reserves. Here it is prohibited to pursue any activity which might disturb or damage the nature complexes. Even under the existing strict protection from anthropogenic ignition sources, vegetation fires do occur on their territory. Besides, lightnings − these natural ignition sources − are impossible to exclude. Since large destructive fires are impermissible in nature reserves, the later especially need vegetation fire behavior prediction for fire management. Fire behavior prediction includes fire spread rate, development (from surface fire into crown or ground one) and fire effects. All this is necessary for taking optimal decisions on how to control each occurring fire and how to suppress it. The Sukachev Institute of Forest SB RAS has developed a method to improve forest fire danger rating and a technique of vegetation fire behavior prediction using vegetation fuel maps (VF maps).

Effects of meteorology on forest fires in India: A modeling study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anasuya Barik ◽  
Somnath Baidya Roy
Keyword(s):  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Forest Fire ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Fire Hazard ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Strong Impact ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
The Relationship

<p>Meteorology has a strong impact on forest fires. Meteorological parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and precipitation alter the fuel loading in forests, control the changes in spatial distribution, intensity and frequency of forest fires and changes in forest fire season. Hence, it is important to understand the relationship between forest fires and meteorological factors and build models that can simulate these relationships.</p><p>The Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) has been used globally to assess and predict the fire behavior in various forest ecosystems. The Fire Weather Index (FWI) of CFFDRS models the relationship between meteorology and forest fires. In this study we calibrate the FWI over Indian forests using percentile analysis and logistic regression technique and test the performance using satellite-derived (MODIS daily fire data from 2003-2018) fire count and Fire Radiative Power (FRP). As the Indian forest landscape is highly heterogeneous, we calibrate the FWI over 4 FWI zones namely Himalayan, Deciduous, Western Ghats and Thorn forests based on IGBP forest classification and Koppen climatic zones.  Five fire danger classes having thresholds of 99<sup>th</sup>, 95<sup>th</sup>, 90<sup>th</sup>, 80<sup>th</sup> and 70<sup>th</sup>of FWI percentiles have been defined with decreasing severity. Results show that the calibrated FWI is capable of simulating the forest fire behavior over India. Sensitivity studies show that temperature and relative humidity are the key controlling factors of forest fires over India.</p><p>This study is one of the first attempts to use fire models to simulate fire behavior over India. It can serve as a launchpad for further work on fire hazard prediction and effects of climate change on fire hazard in India.</p><p> </p>

Fire behavior in aspen slash fuels as related to the Canadian Fire Weather Index

1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1028-1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin E. Alexander
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Prescribed Fires ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Fuel Moisture ◽  
Trembling Aspen ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Weather Index ◽  
Fire Weather Index ◽  
Forest Fire Danger

The characteristics and short-term results of experimental prescribed fires in 2-year-old trembling aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.) logging slash in northern Minnesota have been described by D. A. Perala (1974. Can. J. For. Res. 4: 222–228). The associated burning conditions are expressed here in terms of the weather-dependent numerical fuel moisture codes and fire behavior indexes of the Canadian system of forest fire danger rating.

scholarly journals Fire Potential in the Spruce Budworm-damaged Forests of Ontario

1987 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Stocks
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Fuel Type ◽  
Complex Rearrangement ◽  
Fuel Accumulation ◽  
Spot Fires

An experimental burning program was carried out in Ontario between 1978 and 1982 to document quantitatively fire behavior in balsam fir killed by spruce budworm. Forest fire potential in budworm-killed balsam fir stands was shown to be significantly higher for a number of years following stand mortality. Crown breakage and windthrow, with resultant fuel complex rearrangement and increased surface fuel loads, peaked 5-8 years after mortality. Fire potential was greatest during this period, decreased gradually as balsam fir surface fuels began to decompose and understory vegetation proliferated. Fires occurring prior to "green-up" in the spring behaved explosively with continuous crowning, high spread rates, and severe problems with downwind spot fires. Summer fires in this fuel type did not spread at all in the early years following mortality; however, sufficient woody surface fuel accumulation 4-5 years after mortality permitted summer fire spread

Wildfires and the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index system for the Daxing'anling region of China

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaorui Tian ◽  
Douglas J. McRae ◽  
Jizhong Jin ◽  
Lifu Shu ◽  
Fengjun Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Forest Fires ◽  
Coniferous Forest ◽  
Northern China ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Fire Weather ◽  
Burnt Area ◽  
Weather Index ◽  
Fire Weather Index

The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) system was evaluated for the Daxing'anling region of northern China for the 1987–2006 fire seasons. The FWI system reflected the regional fire danger and could be effectively used there in wildfire management. The various FWI system components were classified into classes (i.e. low to extreme) for fire conditions found in the region. A total of 81.1% of the fires occurred in the high, very high and extreme fire danger classes, in which 73.9% of the fires occurred in the spring (0.1, 9.5, 33.3 and 33.1% in March, April, May and June). Large wildfires greater than 200 ha in area (16.7% of the total) burnt 99.2% of the total burnt area. Lightning was the main ignition source for 57.1% of the total fires. Result show that forest fires mainly occurred in deciduous coniferous forest (61.3%), grass (23.9%) and deciduous broad leaved forest (8.0%). A bimodal fire season was detected, with peaks in May and October. The components of FWI system were good indicators of fire danger in the Daxing'anling region of China and could be used to build a working fire danger rating system for the region.

Modelling logic and the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System

1998 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Van Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fire Research ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Prediction System ◽  
Behavior Prediction ◽  
Crown Fire ◽  
Fire Modelling ◽  
Semi Empirical

This article outlines the flexible semi-empirical philosophy used throughout six decades of fire research by the Canadian Forest Service, culminating in the development of the Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System. It then describes the principles involved when spread rate and fuel consumption are estimated separately to yield fire intensity, and the anomaly that has resulted from the omission of a foliar-moisture effect on crown-fire spread. Judged on its results so far, this Canadian approach has held its own against any other, and holds full promise for the future as well. Key words: forest fire behavior, Canadian FBP System, fire modelling, crown-fire theory, fire research philosophy

scholarly journals Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System: An Overview

1989 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 258-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. J. Stocks ◽  
T. J. Lynham ◽  
B. D Lawson ◽  
M. E. Alexander ◽  
C. E. Van Wagner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fire ◽  
Fire Management ◽  
Fire Behavior ◽  
Fire Danger ◽  
Rating System ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Fire Occurrence ◽  
Rating Systems ◽  
Fire Danger Rating System ◽  
Forest Fire Danger

Forest fire danger rating research in Canada was initiated by the federal government in 1925. Five different fire danger rating systems have been developed since that time, each with increasing universal applicability across Canada. The approach has been to build on previous danger rating systems in an evolutionary fashion and to use field experiments and empirical analysis extensively. The current system, the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS), has been under development by Forestry Canada since 1968. The first major subsystem of the CFFDRS, the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System, provides numerical ratings of relative fire potential based solely on weather observations, and has been in use throughout Canada since 1970. The second major subsystem, the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction (FBP) System, accounts for variability in fire behavior among fuel types (predicting rate of spread, fuel consumption, and frontal fire intensity), was issued in interim form in 1984 with final production scheduled for 1990. A third major CFFDRS subsystem, the Canadian Forest Fire Occurrence Prediction (FOP) System, is currently being formulated. This paper briefly outlines the history and philosophy of fire danger rating research in Canada discussing in detail the structure of the current CFFDRS and its application and use by fire management agencies throughout Canada. Key words: fire danger, fire behavior, fire occurrence prediction, fuel moisture, fire danger rating system, fire management.

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