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Changes in severity distribution after subsequent fires on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA

Valentijn Hoff, Casey C. Teske, James P. Riddering, Lloyd P. Queen, Eric G. Gdula, Windy A. Bunn
Summary - what did the authors do and why?

The authors examined the effects of initial fire severity on subsequent fire severity and also how the pattern of burn severity patches is affected by initial burn conditions.

Publication findings:

The authors found a positive feedback between the initial severity of a fire and the severity of a later reburn, especially concerning high severity forest fire. Conversely, low- or moderate-severity fires may regulate future fires to similar severities, which follows historical patterns of frequent, low-severity fires in dry coniferous forest systems.

Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages

How do spatial and landscape patterns of fire relate to fuels?

The authors found a positive feedback between the initial severity of a fire and the severity of a later reburn, especially concerning high severity forest fire. Conversely, low- or moderate-severity fires may regulate future fires to similar severities, which follows historical patterns of frequent, low-severity fires in dry coniferous forest systems.

How does fire severity relate to fuels?

The authors found a positive feedback between the initial severity of a fire and the severity of a later reburn, especially concerning high severity forest fire. Conversely, low- or moderate-severity fires may regulate future fires to similar severities, which follows historical patterns of frequent, low-severity fires in dry coniferous forest systems.