Fire behavior on a 2 ha fire, inferred from
physical evidence observed one week after the fire, was
compared with fire behavior estimates obtained using the
BEHAVE fire behavior prediction system and fuel measurements in Imperata cylindrica (Alang-alang) made in
the same area. This fire probably burned under light
winds (3-5 km), high relative humidity, and spread slowly
with moderate flame lengths (approximately 100 m hr-1
spread rate, 0.5 - 0.7 m flame lengths). Although appar-
ently killed by lethal crown and bole scorch, the young
Acacia mangium overstory through which the fire burned
resprouted vigorously and apparently survived.
Pollutants sampled during the burning of 30 Ib ponderosa pine fuel beds yielded emission factors for CO, hydrocarbon gases, and particulate matter of 146, 8.4, and 9.1 Ib/ton of fuel, respectively. When similar beds were treated with diammonium phosphate flame retardant, these factors increased to 166, 11.7, and 19.3 Ib/ton of fuel, respectively. Gas chromatographic analysis of hydrocarbon gases showed that 15-40% of this material was composed of methane and ethylene. Ethane and acetylene were the next most abundant materials, with photochemically important materials constituting minor portions of this gaseous component. Fuel beds treated with flame retardant produced more oiefins, and this production lasted throughout the smoldering phase of burning. These tests showed that the smoldering phase of combustion is of major importance to air pollutant production during slash burning. The initial 80% of the fuel burned accounted for only 20-30% of HC and CO emissions. This suggests that a rapid mop-up of slash burns could substantially reduce air pollutant production.
Cost functions were developed for estimating the cost of inventorying forest residue in the Pacific Northwest region by line intersect sampling. Time was accurately recorded for individual tasks of measuring forest residue on three widely varying clear cuttings. The model developed relates the total cost of completing an inventory to fixed costs associated with the entire unit and each sample line, and variable costs of residue loading, fine fuel loadings, number of lines, and length of lines. The slope of the inventory unit was not found to be significantly (P ≤ 0.05) related to the cost, however, the residue loading was significant. Several simplified versions of the cost function are provided which are applicable under certain assumptions and conditions.
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