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Forest fires are one of the main environmental threats in Chile. Fires in this Mediterranean climate region frequently affect native forests and exotic plantations, including in several cases urban and rural settlements. Considering the scarcity of information regarding the fire response dynamics of tree species that are frequently affected by fires, this study aims to establish a flammability classification according to the evolution of the fire initiation risk presented by the most affected forest species in the Valparaíso region. Three exotic species, Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus radiata, and Acacia dealbata, and two native species, Cryptocarya alba and Quillaja saponaria, were studied. Flammability assays indicate that E. globulus, A. dealbata, and C. alba are extremely flammable, whereas P. radiata and Q. saponaria are flammable. Furthermore, E. globulus and A. dealbata have the highest heating values while Q. saponaria has the lowest values. The extreme flammability of E. globulus, A. dealbata, and C. alba indicates a high susceptibility to ignite. Furthermore, the high heat of combustion of E. globulus and A. dealbata can be associated with a high energy release, increasing the risk of fires spreading. In contrast, Q. saponaria has the lowest predisposition to ignite and capacity to release heat. Accordingly, this work shows that all studied tree species contain organic metabolites that are potentially flammable (sesquiterpenes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohol esters, ketones, diterpenes, and triterpenes) and can be considered as drivers of flammability in vegetation. Finally, these preliminary results will aid in the construction of more resilient landscapes in the near future.

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Wildfires in the Valparaíso region (Chile) account for one of the main threats to local biodiversity, ecosystem services and infrastructure. This study focused on producing an initial record of thermo- and physicochemical properties of local forest species. For this purpose, leaf samples of species found in the Peñuelas Lake National Reserve, namely Pinus radiata, Eucalyptus globulus, Acacia dealbata, Quillaja saponaria and Cryptocarya alba, were collected and analysed. Higher and lower heating value, flash point, density and moisture content tests were performed for each sample. Overall results showed that lower heating values measured for both native and exotic species could indicate a high energy release source in wildfires. However, differences in the flash point between species indicated that C. alba and E. globulus had a lower ignition resistance than other species tested, possibly due to a lower flash point. In contrast, Q. saponaria and A. dealbata had the highest flash point for native and exotic species respectively. Finally, all presented data and procedures were aimed at establishing a foundation for a national database of critical forest species properties to be used in wildfire simulation tools. This database will enhance forest fire management effectiveness in Chile.

Open-air burning of agricultural wastes from crops like corn, rice, sorghum, sugar cane, and wheat is common practice in Mexico, which in spite limiting regulations, is the method to eliminate such wastes, to clear the land for further harvesting, to control grasses, weeds, insects, and pests, and to facilitate nutrient absorption. However, this practice generates air pollution and contributes to the greenhouse effect. Burning of straws derived from the said crops was emulated in a controlled combustion chamber, hence determining emission factors for particles, black carbon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitric oxide throughout the process, which comprised three apparent stages: pre-ignition, flaming, and smoldering. In all cases, maximum particle concentrations were observed during the flaming stage, although the maximum final contributions to the particle emission factors corresponded to the smoldering stage. The comparison between particle size distributions (from laser spectrometer) and black carbon (from an aethalometer) confirmed that finest particles were emitted mainly during the flaming stage. Carbon dioxide emissions were also highest during the flaming stage whereas those of carbon monoxide were highest during the smoldering stage. Comparing the emission factors for each straw type with their chemical analyses (elemental, proximate, and biochemical), some correlations were found between lignin content and particle emissions and either particle emissions or duration of the pre-ignition stage. High ash or lignin containing-straw slowed down the pre-ignition and flaming stages, thus favoring CO oxidation to CO.

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Este estudo focaliza o comportamento do aço galvanizado em um ambiente marinho corrosivo e no processo de escoamento superficial para o mesmo material que ocorrem em Valparaíso, Chile. O potencial de corrosão e a taxa de corrosão avaliados através de perda de massa foram utilizados para determinar os danos da corrosão para o aço galvanizado. As composições dos produtos de corrosão foram determinadas utilizando difratometria de raios X (XRD) e sua morfologia através da microscopia eletrônica de varredura (SEM). As soluções de escoamento coletadas após as chuvas foram analisadas para determinar o valor de pH e das concentrações dos íons Cl-, SO4 2e Zn 2+. Os resultados após 15 meses mostram que o potencial de corrosão do aço galvanizado aumenta ao longo do tempo, indicando a formação de uma película protetora que consiste em produtos de corrosão de zinco. Estes produtos foram identificados como zincita e simoncoleita. Os valores de pH obtidos para as soluções de escoamento são semelhantes das amostras de água da chuva de referência, e as concentrações de cloreto das soluções de escoamento são aproximadamente duas vezes as da água de chuva This study focuses on the behavior of galvanized steel in a corrosive marine environment and on the runoff process for the same material occurring in Valparaiso, Chile. The corrosion potential and corrosion rate evaluated via mass loss were used to determine the corrosion damage to the galvanized steel. The compositions of the corrosion products were determined using X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and their morphology through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The runoff solutions collected after rainfall were analyzed to determine the pH value, and Cl-, SO 4 2and Zn 2+ ion concentrations. The results after 15 months show that the corrosion potential of the galvanized steel increases over time, indicating the formation of a protective film that consists of zinc corrosion products. These products were identified as zincite and simonkolleite. The pH values obtained for the runoff solutions are similar to those of the reference rainwater samples, and the chloride concentrations of the runoff solutions are approximately twice those of the rainwater.