Mass fire behavior created by extensive tree mortality and high tree density not predicted by operational fire behavior models in the southern Sierra Nevada

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 518, P. 120258 - 120258

Published: May 16, 2022

Large, severe wildfires continue to burn in frequent-fire adapted forests but the mechanisms that contribute them and their predictability are important questions. Using a combination of ground based remotely sensed data we analyzed behavior patterns 2020 Creek Fire where drought bark beetles had previously created substantial levels tree mortality southern Sierra Nevada. We found dead biomass live densities were most variables predicting fire severity; high severity encompassed 41% area largest patch (19,592 ha) comprised 13% total burned. Areas with highest amounts also positively related size indicating larger, more homogenous conditions this forest characteristic resulted adverse, landscape-scale effects. The first two days abnormally hot dry weather during greatest growth was largely within normal range variation for time year one day lower windspeeds. From September 5 8th burned almost 50% its entire intensity inferred from brightness-temperature typical except on 6th when heat increased towards interior fire. Not only concentrated away perimeter, significant amount still being generated perimeter previous day. This is classic pattern mass along critical factors developing behavior. Operational models not able predict because they do include post-frontal combustion fire-atmosphere interactions. An question regarding if event preceded it could have been avoided or reduced natural these forests? episode outside historical analogs exacerbated by past management decisions. shows us how vulnerable our current suffering offering fuel capable generating fires which future recovery questionable type conversion probable reoccurring

Language: Английский

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Rising wildfire risk to houses in the United States, especially in grasslands and shrublands

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 382(6671), P. 702 - 707

Published: Nov. 9, 2023

Wildfire risks to homes are increasing, especially in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where wildland vegetation and houses close proximity. Notably, we found that more exposed destroyed by grassland shrubland fires than forest United States. Destruction was likely fires, but they burned less WUI. The number of within wildfire perimeters has doubled since 1990s because both housing growth (47% additionally houses) area (53%). Most were WUI, which grew substantially during 2010s (2.6 million new WUI houses), albeit not as rapidly before. Any increases risk though, increase existing houses.

Language: Английский

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Considering regeneration failure in the context of changing climate and disturbance regimes in western North America

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 52(10), P. 1281 - 1302

Published: June 22, 2022

Wildfire-mediated changes to forests have prompted numerous studies on post-fire forest recovery of coniferous forests. Given climate change, a growing body work demonstrates that conifer regeneration in temperate and boreal is declining, phenomenon often termed “regeneration failure.” However, the definition parameters are variable. Characterization drought also varies greatly, thus hindering ability compare results among areas. This review discusses new perspectives failure places these into context fire activity. We focus this three types where well documented: western forests, cold mixed-conifer dry pine To place challenges tree regional trends, we present novel analysis summarizes conditions prior, during, following year large wildfire. demonstrate need assess specific dynamics well-defined metrics. For example, establishment may historically occur over longer periods, current future exacerbate not promote pre-fire structure composition. Many undergoing rapid change type, magnitude, causes be compared As such, should cautious quantifying failure” without providing spatial temporal context.

Language: Английский

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Contemporary wildfires are more severe compared to the historical reference period in western US dry conifer forests

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 544, P. 121232 - 121232

Published: July 3, 2023

Language: Английский

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Understanding Fire Regimes for a Better Anthropocene

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 48(1), P. 207 - 235

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Fire is an integral part of the Earth System and humans have skillfully used fire for millennia. Yet human activities are scaling up reinforcing each other in ways that reshaping patterns across planet. We review these changes using concept regime, which describes timing, location, type fires. then explore consequences regime on biological, chemical, physical processes sustain life Earth. Anthropogenic drivers such as climate change, land use, invasive species shifting regimes creating environments unlike any humanity has previously experienced. Although exposure to extreme wildfire events increasing, we highlight how knowledge can be mobilized achieve a wide range goals, from reducing carbon emissions promoting biodiversity well-being. A perspective critical navigating toward sustainable future—a better Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Principles of fire ecology

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: April 24, 2024

Abstract Fire ecology is a complex discipline that can only be understood by integrating biological, physical, and social sciences. The science of fire explores wildland fire’s mechanisms effects across all scales time space. However, the lack defined, organizing concepts in dilutes its collective impact on knowledge management decision-making makes vulnerable to misunderstanding misappropriation. has matured as deserves an enunciation unique emergent principles organization. Most scientific disciplines have established theories, laws, been tested, debated, adopted discipline’s practitioners. Such reflect consensus current knowledge, guide methodology interpretation, expose gaps coherent structured way. In this manuscript, we introduce five comprehensive define produced provide framework support continued development discipline.

Language: Английский

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Burning from the ground up: the structure and impact of Prescribed Burn Associations in the United States

International Journal of Wildland Fire, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 34(3)

Published: March 11, 2025

Background To combat losses and threats from fire exclusion extreme wildfire events, communities in the United States are increasingly self-organizing through locally led Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) to plan implement prescribed burns on private lands. Aim Our study aimed document expansion of PBAs provide insight into their structure, function, impacts. Methods Leaders 135 known across were invited participate an online survey. Key results Survey demonstrate a widespread emergence States, successfully mobilizing thousands volunteers collectively burn more than 34,000 ha annually. Conclusions demonstrated that they reducing myriad barriers burning while meeting goals broaden access use using neighbors-helping-neighbors model training, pool resources, reduce costs burning. By including with diverse levels experience backgrounds, changing narrative who has fire. Implications The adaptability PBA local contexts provides alternative community-led, non-agency-based management critical advancing pace scale restoration needed fire-adapted ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Indigenous fire management and cross-scale fire-climate relationships in the Southwest United States from 1500 to 1900 CE

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(49)

Published: Dec. 7, 2022

Prior research suggests that Indigenous fire management buffers climate influences on wildfires, but it is unclear whether these benefits accrue across geographic scales. We use a network of 4824 fire-scarred trees in Southwest United States dry forests to analyze up 400 years fire-climate relationships at local, landscape, and regional scales for traditional territories three different cultures. Comparison fire-year prior conditions periods intensive cultural less-intensive indicates weakened local landscape This effect did not scale the entire region because land was spatially temporally heterogeneous scale. Restoring or emulating practices could buffer impacts would need be repeatedly implemented broad broader benefits.

Language: Английский

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Drivers of California’s changing wildfires: a state-of-the-knowledge synthesis

International Journal of Wildland Fire, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(7), P. 1039 - 1058

Published: May 22, 2023

Over the past four decades, annual area burned has increased significantly in California and across western USA. This trend reflects a confluence of intersecting factors that affect wildfire regimes. It is correlated with increasing temperatures atmospheric vapour pressure deficit. Anthropogenic climate change driver behind much this change, addition to influencing other climate-related factors, such as compression winter wet season. These climatic trends associated increases fire activity are projected continue into future. Additionally, related suppression Indigenous use fire, aggressive and, some cases, changes logging practices or fuel management intensity, collectively have produced large build-ups vegetative fuels ecosystems. Human activities provide most common ignition source for California’s wildfires. Despite its human toll, provides range ecological benefits many Given diversity vegetation types regimes found state, addressing challenges will require multi-faceted locally targeted responses terms management, human-caused ignitions, building regulations restrictions, integrative urban ecosystem planning, collaboration Tribes support reinvigoration traditional burning

Language: Английский

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Quantifying thresholds for advancing impact-based drought assessment using classification and regression tree (CART) models

Journal of Hydrology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 625, P. 129966 - 129966

Published: July 20, 2023

Language: Английский

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