Ignition probability of fine dead surface fuels in native Patagoniaforests of Argentina

• Main Authors: Bianchi, Lucas Osvaldo, Defossé, Guillermo E.
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: Ciencias Agrarias; Austrocedrus Chilensis; Nothofagus Antarctica; Wildfire; Fire Behavior; Fuel Moisture; Fire Weather Index; Argentina; Bianchi; Patagonia; San Juan; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: https://rid.unrn.edu.ar/jspui/handle/20.500.12049/2573; https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12049/2573; http://revistas.inia.es/index.php/fs/article/view/4632; https://doi.org/10.5424/fs/2014231-04632; http://hdl.handle.net/11336/7651

Fil: Bianchi, Lucas O. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Fil: Bianchi, Lucas O. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco"; Argentina. Fil: Bianchi, Lucas O. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Defossé, Guillermo E. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "san Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ingenieria - Sede Esquel. Departamento de Ingenieria Forestal; Argentina. Fil: Defossé, Guillermo E. Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico; Argentina. Fil: Defossé, Guillermo E. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina si Aim of study: The Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) is being implemented all over the world. This index is being adapted to the Argentinean ecosystems since the year 2000. With the objective of calibrating the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) of the FWI system to Patagonian forests, we studied the relationship between ignition probability and fine dead surface fuel moisture content (MC) as an indicator of potential fire ignition. Area of study: The study area is located in northwestern Patagonia, Argentina, and comprised two main forest types (cypress and ñire) grown under a Mediterranean climate, with a dry summer and precipitations during winter and autumn (~500-800 mm per year). Material and Methods: We conducted lab ignition tests fires to determine the threshold of fine dead fuel ignition at different MC levels. Moisture content of dead fine surface fuels in the field was measured every 10-15 days from November to March for three seasons. We calculated the FFMC during these seasons and correlated it with the measured MC by applying a logistic regression model. We combined the results of the ignition tests and of the regressions to suggest FFMC categories for estimating fire danger in Patagonian forests. Main results: The ignition threshold occurred at MC values of 21.5 and 25.0% for cypress and ñire sites, respectively. The MC measured varied from 7.3 ...