The Interaction of Fire, Fuels, and Climate across Rocky Mountain Forests

Schoennagel, Tania; Veblen, Thomas T.; Romme, William H.

doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2004)054[0661:tioffa]2.0.co;2

Cited by 677 publications

(659 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The third case study wildfire is used to illustrate this point. The central Arizona Rodeo-Chediski wildfire in June 2002 burned over 460 000 acres in less than four weeks (Schoennagel et al, 2004). Ten of the first 13 days of the wildfire event were classified to the node 02 circulation pattern, which represents strong ridging (Figure 2).…”

Section: Large Wildfires and Noncritical Fire-weather Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synoptic climatology of extreme fire-weather conditions across the southwest United States

Crimmins

2006

Int. J. Climatol.

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Extreme fire-weather conditions are usually thought of as discrete events rather than part of a continuum of meteorological and climatological variability. This study uses a synoptic climatological approach (weather typing) to examine the seasonal climatology of extreme fire-weather conditions across the southwest United States (Arizona and New Mexico) during the period of 1988-2003. Three key circulation patterns representing broad southwesterly flow and large geopotential height gradients are associated with over 80% of the extreme fire-weather days identified in this study. Seasonal changes in relative humidity levels, strength of height gradient, and geopotential heights all modulate the relationship between these key circulation patterns and extreme fire-weather days. Examination of daily incident summaries for three recent wildfires

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Section: Large Wildfires and Noncritical Fire-weather Typesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synoptic climatology of extreme fire-weather conditions across the southwest United States

Crimmins

2006

Int. J. Climatol.

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“…However, the relative effect that these variables have on fire regimes may vary across landscapes in response to environmental gradients (Schoennagel et al 2004;Krawchuk and Moritz 2011;Perry et al 2011;Price and Bradstock 2012). Landscape variation in vegetation productivity in response to variation in mean annual precipitation or soil fertility may potentially alter the relative influence of weather, fuel age and topography on severity by effects on fuel characteristics (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fox et al 1979;Morrison et al 1996;Penman and York 2010) and rarely consider the effect of precipitation gradients across a vegetation community. Spatial variation in fuel accumulation will have important implications for fire management, as it will shape the temporal window of fuel reduction burning effectiveness and overall fire suppression potential across a landscape (Fernandes and Botelho 2003;Schoennagel et al 2004). Broad scale analysis of relationships between fuel age (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can precipitation influence landscape controls on wildfire severity? A case study within temperate eucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia

Collins

Bradstock

Penman

2014

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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Abstract. The environmental, economic and social impacts of wildfires depend on spatial patterns of fire severity. An understanding as to how drivers of fire severity vary across broad vegetation communities exists. However, examination of variation within communities in response to gradients of moisture has received little attention so far. This study examined whether relationships between environmental variables (i.e. fire weather, topography and fuel age) and fire severity were modified by increasing mean annual precipitation. Understorey fires were more likely to occur in young fuels (i.e. ,5 years since fire) in drier sites, although this effect diminished as precipitation increased. The probability of occurrence of understorey fires under non-extreme weather and on steep slopes was reduced in wetter areas. Relationships between crown fire and weather, topography and fuel age were largely unaltered by the precipitation gradient, with only a marginally significant interaction occurring between weather and mean annual precipitation. Greater fine fuel accumulation associated with increased precipitation presumably reduced fuel limitations imposed by environmental factors (i.e. fire weather, slope, fuel age), altering their relative control on the probability of understorey fire. The probability of crown fires is predominantly driven by fire weather and is consequently less sensitive to precipitation gradients. Consideration of precipitation gradients will be necessary when identifying controls of fire severity and devising effective fire management strategies.

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“…Forest thinning has become a regular practice as a fuel reduction strategy throughout the United States in landscapes that have a history of fire suppression, but due to recent changes in policy and perceptions, it has also become commonplace in ecosystems that historically are not prone to fire and naturally support dense plant communities (Schoennagel et al, 2004). For example, prior to significant human influence, the mixed-coniferous subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains experienced relatively infrequent (up to many centuries), high-intensity fires (Schoennagel et al, 2004;Sibold et al, 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, prior to significant human influence, the mixed-coniferous subalpine forests of the Rocky Mountains experienced relatively infrequent (up to many centuries), high-intensity fires (Schoennagel et al, 2004;Sibold et al, 2006). However, selective logging in subalpine forests is currently widespread, in part to reduce perceived fire hazard, but also to control outbreaks of forest pathogens and support other desirable attributes, such as growth of aspen (P. tremuloides; Colorado Division of Forestry, 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of stand density on ecosystem properties of subalpine forests in the southern Rocky Mountains, USA

Hall¹,

Marchand²

2010

Ann. For. Sci.

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Abstract• Mixed coniferous, subalpine forest communities in the Rocky Mountains are historically dense and have experienced infrequent, high-severity fire. However, many of these high-elevation stands are thinned for a number of perceived benefits.• We explored the effects of forest stand density on ecosystem properties in subalpine forests in Colorado, USA, 17-18 y after forests were managed for timber.• Forest structure significantly altered the composition and chemical signature of plant communities. Previously managed stands contained lower density of overstory trees and higher ground cover compared to paired reference stands. Foliar phenolic concentration of several species was negatively related to basal area of overstory trees. Furthermore, reductions in stand density increased total foliar phenolic:nitrogen ratios in some species, suggesting that gap formation may drive long-term changes in litter quality. Despite significant changes in forest structure, reductions in stand density did not leave a strong legacy in surface soil properties, likely due to the integrity of soil organic matter reserves.• Changes in forest structure associated with past management has left a long-term impact on plant communities but has only subtly altered soil nutrient cycling, possibly due to trade offs between litter decomposability and microclimate associated with reductions in canopy cover. Mots-clés :chimie foliaire / composés phénoliques / cycle de l'azote du sol / densité du peuplement / biogéochimie Résumé -Effets de la densité du peuplement sur les propriétés des écosystèmes des forêts subalpines dans le sud des Montagnes Rocheuses aux USA.• Les communautés subalpines de forêts mixtes de conifères dans les Montagnes Rocheuses sont historiquement denses et ont peu connu de feux très sévères. Cependant, beaucoup de ces peuplements de haute altitude sont éclaircis pour de nombreux profits.• Nous avons étudié les effets de la densité des peuplements forestiers sur les propriétés des éco-systèmes dans les forêts subalpines du Colorado (USA), 17-18 ans après que les forêts aient été exploitées pour le bois.• La structure de la forêt a considérablement modifié la composition et la signature chimique des communautés végétales. Auparavant les peuplements exploités renfermaient une plus faible densité d'arbres de l'étage dominant et une couverture du sol plus importante par rapport aux peuplements de référence correspondants. La concentration des composés phénoliques foliaires de plusieurs espèces a été liée négativement à la surface terrière des arbres dominants. En outre, les réductions de la densité du peuplement ont augmenté les rapports composés phénoliques foliaires totaux : azote chez certaines espèces, ce qui suggère que la formation de trouée peut conduire à des changements à long terme de la qualité de la litière. Malgré d'importants changements dans la structure forestière, la réduction de la densité du peuplement n'a pas laissé un héritage solide dans les propriétés de surface du sol, probablement à cause de l'inté...

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The Interaction of Fire, Fuels, and Climate across Rocky Mountain Forests

Cited by 677 publications

References 37 publications

Synoptic climatology of extreme fire-weather conditions across the southwest United States

Synoptic climatology of extreme fire-weather conditions across the southwest United States

Can precipitation influence landscape controls on wildfire severity? A case study within temperate eucalypt forests of south-eastern Australia

Effects of stand density on ecosystem properties of subalpine forests in the southern Rocky Mountains, USA

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