Fire Behaviour in South African Fynbos (Macchia) Vegetation and Predictions from Rothermel's Fire Model

Wilgen, Brian W. van; Maitre, David C Le; Kruger, F. J.

doi:10.2307/2403338

Cited by 93 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Finally, a fuel model with the recently burned areas has been developed; it features a very low fuel load ( Table 2). The fuel values represented by the models fall well within the range reported for vegetation types in Greece and for Mediterranean vegetation types in other parts of the world [32,33]. The segmentation results using the trial and error approach were deemed satisfactory with the use a scale parameter of 35, shape criterion of 0.1, and compactness of 0.5, which resulted in as coarse as possible but not too complex and meaningful segments.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 66%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Assessing Wildfire Risk in Cultural Heritage Properties Using High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Imagery and Spatially Explicit Fire Simulations: The Case of Holy Mount Athos, Greece

Mallinis

Mitsopoulos²,

Beltran³

et al. 2016

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Fire management implications and the design of conservation strategies on fire prone landscapes within the UNESCO World Heritage Properties require the application of wildfire risk assessment at landscape level. The objective of this study was to analyze the spatial variation of wildfire risk on Holy Mount Athos in Greece. Mt. Athos includes 20 monasteries and other structures that are threatened by increasing frequency of wildfires. Site-specific fuel models were created by measuring in the field several fuel parameters in representative natural fuel complexes, while the spatial extent of the fuel types was determined using a synergy of high-resolution imagery and high temporal information from medium spatial resolution imagery classified through object-based analysis and a machine learning classifier. The Minimum Travel Time (MTT) algorithm, as it is embedded in FlamMap software, was applied in order to evaluate Burn Probability (BP), Conditional Flame Length (CFL), Fire Size (FS), and Source-Sink Ratio (SSR). The results revealed low burn probabilities for the monasteries; however, nine out of the 20 monasteries have high fire potential in terms of fire intensity, which means that if an ignition occurs, an intense fire is expected. The outputs of this study may be used for decision-making for short-term predictions of wildfire risk at an operational level, contributing to fire suppression and management of UNESCO World Heritage Properties.

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 66%

“…Vaillant et al [31] and van Wilgen et al [32] validated fire behavior prediction simulations in areas different from those where the models were originally developed. They concluded that specific, customized models need to be developed to account for both the fuel characteristics and the high heterogeneity of Mediterranean vegetation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Wildfire Risk in Cultural Heritage Properties Using High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Imagery and Spatially Explicit Fire Simulations: The Case of Holy Mount Athos, Greece

Mallinis

Mitsopoulos²,

Beltran³

et al. 2016

Forests

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Fire behaviour in older mature and degenerate stands can be extreme even in comparison to that of shrublands in drier parts of the world (e.g. Van Wilgen et al 1985;Catchpole et al 1998;Fernandes 2001; and, crucially, is also much more variable, making it less predictable and subject to sudden changes in behaviour.…”

Section: Moorland Managementmentioning

confidence: 99%

The future of fire management in the British uplands

Davies¹,

Gray²,

Hamilton³

et al. 2008

International Journal of Biodiversity Science & Management

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARYPrescribed and wild fires play a significant role in the ecology of upland areas; changes in the frequency and intensity of both can have significant effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Whilst the way we manage fire in the future will depend on desired outcomes, the risk of wildfires and the suitability of conditions for prescribed burning will depend on climate, land-use and environmental change. Changes in relative fire risk and hazard therefore need to be carefully considered when setting management policy. Fire has long been used as a management tool in the uplands of the UK but there has been little formal support or training, and emphasis has been placed on traditional knowledge. While there is pressure in some quarters for a reduction in the use of fire, prescribed burning can be used to protect biodiversity assets and reach a range of management objectives. Large areas of old heather excluded from rotational burning pose a significant fire hazard. Wildfires in such areas will be more intense and severe, and more likely to ignite peat, causing considerable environmental damage and releasing large quantities of carbon. We argue for an ecological basis for the use of fire and seek to open a debate by briefly reviewing the main controls on fire risk in upland areas and discussing existing management and its challenges with regards to three case studies: traditionally managed moorland, forestry and peatland soils. We make recommendations for future management and suggest significant challenges exist for managers and researchers that need to be dealt with urgently.

show abstract

“…A very similar model was later developed by Vega et al [5] for the same type of shrubland fuels and with the same independent variables, eqn. (2). Another model including not only wind, slope and fuel height as independent variables but also shrub cover (Pcob) was published in Vega et al [6], eqn.…”

Section: Empirical Models For Shrubland Fuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One reason explaining the lack of knowledge is the difficulty of obtaining data to develop this kind of models. Some authors have developed empirical models to predict fire rate of spread from field experimental burns performed in different shrubland ecosystems (Van Wilgen et al [2], Marsden-Smedley and Catchpole [3], Vega et al [4][5][6][7], Fernandes et al [8,9], Fernandes [10]). Nevertheless, this type of field experimentation is complex and requires a lot of investment in terms of planning, equipment and human resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing fire propagation empirical models in shrub fuel complexes using wind tunnel data

Marino¹,

Guijarro²,

Madrigal³

et al. 2008

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Shrubland are one of the main communities affected by wildland fires, both in forested and unforested areas. However, empirical models predicting fire behaviour in these communities are scarce. One reason explaining the lack of knowledge is the difficulty of obtaining data to develop these kinds of models. Wind tunnel experimental fires have been carried out in different shrubland fuel complexes (Ulex europaeus L. and Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk.) collected in Galicia (NW Spain). Rate of spread data recorded in the laboratory tests have been compared with predictions from existing empirical models. The relationship between the rate of spread values observed in the wind tunnel and the values predicted by different empirical equations obtained in field experimental burns is highly significant, although models overestimate the values observed in the wind tunnel. Nevertheless, the high correlation (r between 0.86 and 0.99) allows both values to be considered proportional. Even if the laboratory scale is a limiting factor to study fire behaviour, these experiments are simpler, safer and less expensive than the ones carried out in the field. Therefore, laboratory experiments could be an important complementary source of information to field studies in order to further the understanding of fire behaviour in shrubland fuel complexes.

show abstract

Fire Behaviour in South African Fynbos (Macchia) Vegetation and Predictions from Rothermel's Fire Model

Cited by 93 publications

References 14 publications

Assessing Wildfire Risk in Cultural Heritage Properties Using High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Imagery and Spatially Explicit Fire Simulations: The Case of Holy Mount Athos, Greece

Assessing Wildfire Risk in Cultural Heritage Properties Using High Spatial and Temporal Resolution Satellite Imagery and Spatially Explicit Fire Simulations: The Case of Holy Mount Athos, Greece

The future of fire management in the British uplands

Assessing fire propagation empirical models in shrub fuel complexes using wind tunnel data

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About