Document


Title

A Deeper Look at Drivers of Fire Activity, Re-burns, and Unburned Patches in Alaska's Boreal Forest
Document Type: Fact Sheet / Brief / Bulletin
Author(s): Randi R. Jandt
Publication Year: 2017

Cataloging Information

Keyword(s):
  • boreal forest
  • fire activity
  • fire return interval
  • fire severity
  • MODIS - Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer
  • MTBS - Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity
  • unburned patches
Region(s):
Record Maintained By:
Record Last Modified: April 25, 2019
FRAMES Record Number: 24397

Description

Alaska’s fire managers are well aware that most boreal burning occurs during relatively brief periods of high fire activity. This was well-illustrated in the 2015 fire season (below). There is also evidence to suggest that fires may be more severe (Barrett and Kasischke 2013) and resistant to control during these periods. Scientists and managers both seek better understanding of why and when these periods are likely to occur. Fire protection agencies would like to have longer-term seasonal fire activity predictions for preparedness and strategy decisions while land managers and scientists want to inform models of long-term ecosystem response to changes in climate and/or vegetation succession and repeat disturbance.

Online Link(s):
Link to this document (299 KB; pdf)
Citation:
Jandt, Randi R. 2017. A Deeper Look at Drivers of Fire Activity, Re-burns, and Unburned Patches in Alaska's Boreal Forest. AFSC Research Brief 2017-1. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Fire Science Consortium. 2 p.