Assessing Fire Propagation Empirical Models In Shrub Fuel Complexes Using Wind Tunnel Data
Price
Free (open access)
Transaction
Volume
119
Pages
10
Page Range
121 - 130
Published
2008
Size
346 kb
Paper DOI
10.2495/FIVA080131
Copyright
WIT Press
Author(s)
E. Marino, M. Guijarro, J. Madrigal, C. Hernando & C. Diez
Abstract
Shrubland are one of the main communities affected by wildland fires, both in forested and unforested areas. However, empirical models predicting fire behaviour in these communities are scarce. One reason explaining the lack of knowledge is the difficulty of obtaining data to develop these kinds of models. Wind tunnel experimental fires have been carried out in different shrubland fuel complexes (Ulex europaeus L. and Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk.) collected in Galicia (NW Spain). Rate of spread data recorded in the laboratory tests have been compared with predictions from existing empirical models. The relationship between the rate of spread values observed in the wind tunnel and the values predicted by different empirical equations obtained in field experimental burns is highly significant, although models overestimate the values observed in the wind tunnel. Nevertheless, the high correlation (r between 0.86 and 0.99) allows both values to be considered proportional. Even if the laboratory scale is a limiting factor to study fire behaviour, these experiments are simpler, safer and less expensive than the ones carried out in the field. Therefore, laboratory experiments could be an important complementary source of information to field studies in order to further the understanding of fire behaviour in shrubland fuel complexes. Keywords: fire behaviour, rate of spread, shrubland, empirical models, Ulex europaeus L., Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk. 1 Introduction Modelling is progressively more becoming a powerful tool to study fire behaviour. Classically, fire behaviour models are classified as physical, empirical and semi-empirical models. Empirical modelling has resulted in
Keywords
fire behaviour, rate of spread, shrubland, empirical models, Ulex europaeus L., Pterospartum tridentatum (L.) Willk.