Canadian Forest Service Publications
Strategy for a fire module in dynamic global vegetation models. 1999. Fosberg, M.A.; Cramer, W.; Brovkin, V.; Fleming, R.A.; Gardner, R.H.; Gill, A.M.; Goldammer, J.G.; Keane, R.E.; Koehler, P.; Lenihan, J.M.; Neilson, R.P.; Sitch, S.; Thornicke, K.; Venevski, S.; Weber, M.G.; Wittenberg, U. International Journal of Wildland Fire 9: 79-84.
Year: 1999
Issued by: Great Lakes Forestry Centre
Catalog ID: 24421
Language: English
Availability: PDF (request by e-mail)
Abstract
Strategy for a fire module in dynamic global
vegetation models
Michael Fosberg, Wolfgang Cramer, Victor Brovkin,
Rich Fleming, Robert Gardner, Malcolm Gill, Johann
Goldammer, Robert Keane, Peter Koehler, Jim
Lenihan, Ron Neilson, Stefen Sitch, Kirsten
Thornicke, Sergey Venevski, Michael Weber and Uwe
Wittenberg
A series of experimental fires was conducted to document point-source fire growth burning on full-tree harvested jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) sites with a feathermoss (Pleurozium schreberi (B.S.G.) Mitt.) duff layer. Results showed that the time for any of the fires to reach equilibrium spread rates was constant despite the fuel moisture codes and fire behavior indices of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System calculated at the time of the fires. Two relationships were developed (linear and nonlinear) for average (wind lulls included) and peak wind conditions. The linear prediction for peak wind conditions estimates that equilibrium spread rates may be achieved as quickly as 22.3 minutes after ignition. The fire depended upon a continuous feathermoss duff layer, and not the slash fuel component, for its spread. Hydraulic (moisture dependent) and thermal properties of the feathermoss surface layer contributed to the rapid drying experienced even after large amounts of precipitation had fallen.