Document

Title

Linking dynamic empirical fire spread models: introducing Canadian Conifer Pyrometrics
Document Type: Conference Proceedings
Author(s): Daniel D. B. Perrakis; Miguel G. Cruz; Martin E. Alexander; Stephen W. Taylor; Jennifer L. Beverly
Publication Year: 2020

Cataloging Information

Keyword(s):
  • Canada
  • CBD - crown bulk density
  • CCP - Canadian Conifer Pyrometrics
  • conifer fuel types
  • crown base height
  • crown fire initiation
  • crown fire modelling
  • empirical model
  • FBP - CFFDRS Fire Behavior Prediction System
  • fuel moisture content
  • ROS - rate of spread
Topic(s):
Region(s):
  • International
Partner Site(s):
Record Maintained By:
FRAMES Staff; https://www.frames.gov/contact
Record Last Modified: October 14, 2020
FRAMES Record Number: 62104

Description

[From Objectives and Methods] This project introduces a conceptual scheme, tentatively called 'Canadian Conifer Pyrometrics' (CCP), that combines four separate modelling components into a coherent system for predicting wildfire behaviour in conifer forest fuel types. A simple estimate of surface fire spread was fitted using aggregated observations from the Canadian Forest Fire Behavior (FBP) System database. The Wotton and Beverly (2007) equations for estimating fine fuel moisture content were then used in a reanalysis of the Cruz et al. (2004, 2005) crown fire models. This allowed for stand-sensitive estimates of fuel moisture content and stand-specific crown base height and crown bulk density measures to be linked with the process of crown fire initiation and spread for conifer forests. The result is a fire behaviour modelling system built on empirical data that potentially offers much greater flexibility with respect to conifer fuels than the existing FBP System.

Online Link(s):
Link to this document (191 KB; pdf)
Citation:
Perrakis, Daniel D.B.; Cruz, Miguel G.; Alexander, Martin E.; Taylor, Stephen W.; Beverly, Jennifer L. 2020. Linking dynamic empirical fire spread models: introducing Canadian Conifer Pyrometrics. Pages 67-72 in: Proceedings of 6th Fuels and Fire Behavior Conference, 2019 April 29 - May 3, Albuqerque, NM, Sydney, NSW, Marseille, FR. Missoula, MT: International Association of Wildland Fire.