35 research outputs found
A review of wildland fire spread modelling, 1990-present 2: Empirical and quasi-empirical models
In recent years, advances in computational power and spatial data analysis
(GIS, remote sensing, etc) have led to an increase in attempts to model the
spread and behaviour of wildland fires across the landscape. This series of
review papers endeavours to critically and comprehensively review all types of
surface fire spread models developed since 1990. This paper reviews models of
an empirical or quasi-empirical nature. These models are based solely on the
statistical analysis of experimentally obtained data with or without some
physical framework for the basis of the relations. Other papers in the series
review models of a physical or quasi-physical nature, and mathematical
analogues and simulation models. The main relations of empirical models are
that of wind speed and fuel moisture content with rate of forward spread.
Comparisons are made of the different functional relationships selected by
various authors for these variables.Comment: 22 pages + 7 pages references + 2 pages tables + 2 pages figures.
Submitted to International Journal of Wildland Fir
Recommended from our members
Measuring fire weather and forest inflammability
In the measurement of fire weather and forest inflammability,
now practiced regularly at more than 90 forest stations in northern
Idaho and western Montana, it is necessary to use many methods
that are peculiar to this work. Some of these methods are familiar
to meteorologists, but few foresters have had any appreciable training
in meteorology. Others are of such, recent development and so
specially designed for forest protection that they are unknown to
most meteorologists and are not yet taught in the schools of forestry
or described in any textbooks. The information available on these
methods is scattered through numerous bulletins, reports, and official
letters of instruction. Much of this information is assembled in this
circular for more convenient reference. It has been prepared specifically
for use in the Northern Rocky Mountain Region; but much
of the material presented may be of value in other regions.
The sole purpose of the weather and inflammability measurements
described herein is to improve forest-fire control. Nearly every
measurement described has been found by experience to contribute
toward this purpose; the remainder are being tested on a large scale
to determine whether or not they are worth while. Every method
of the latter group has been tried experimentally over a period of
years, at the Priest River, Idaho, branch of the Northern Rocky
Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. The wood-cylinder
method of measuring fuel moisture, for example, was developed
and tested at Priest River over a period of 7 years before the station
advocated that it be tried on a large scale in routine field practice.
Field tests are essential because they often show possibilities of improvement in either technique or application that cannot be discovered in more limited experimentation.Gerald W. Williams Collectio
A review of wildland fire spread modelling, 1990-present, 1: Physical and quasi-physical models
In recent years, advances in computational power and spatial data analysis
(GIS, remote sensing, etc) have led to an increase in attempts to model the
spread and behaviour of wildland fires across the landscape. This series of
review papers endeavours to critically and comprehensively review all types of
surface fire spread models developed since 1990. This paper reviews models of a
physical or quasi-physical nature. These models are based on the fundamental
chemistry and/or physics of combustion and fire spread. Other papers in the
series review models of an empirical or quasi-empirical nature, and
mathematical analogues and simulation models. Many models are extensions or
refinements of models developed before 1990. Where this is the case, these
models are also discussed but much less comprehensively.Comment: 31 pages + 8 pages references + 2 figures + 5 tables. Submitted to
International Journal of Wildland Fir
Set of weed cylinders and a duff hygrometer properly set beneath a standard screen
Measurement of duff and wood moisture at many stations must be made under the same amount of shade if they are to be accurately comparable. A wire screen is provided to all stations so that this shade may be the same at all of them. This photo shows a set of weed cylinders and a duff hygrometer properly set beneath a standard screen
A series of snow scenes [01]
A series of snow scenes with notes by Gisborne expressing his dissatisfaction with building design, landscaping, drainage, and lost time shoveling roofs
Memo from Gisborne to Director Tebbe [01]
Memo from Gisborne to Director Tebbe and note to Wellner describing Gisborne's frustration with architects, snow, and inconsistent photo history of Priest Creek Experimental Forest
A series of snow scenes [03]
A series of snow scenes with notes by Gisborne expressing his dissatisfaction with building design, landscaping, drainage, and lost time shoveling roofs