Climate influences on future fire severity: a synthesis of climate-fire interactions and impacts on fire regimes, high-severity fire, and forests in the western United States

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: July 24, 2023

Abstract Background Increases in fire activity and changes regimes have been documented recent decades across the western United States. Climate change is expected to continue exacerbate impacts forested ecosystems by increasing frequency, size, severity of wildfires States (US). Warming temperatures shifting precipitation patterns are altering landscapes making them more susceptible high-severity fire. large patches can result significant landscape processes ecosystem function vegetation structure composition. In this synthesis, we examine predicted climatic influence on discuss severity, dynamics, interactions between fire, vegetation, climate. We describe changes, impacts, risks related with climate how management options may mitigate some moderate forests, carbon, post Results driving larger Many regions experience an increase where conditions hotter drier evident. Increased temperatures, drought conditions, fuels, weather important drivers severity. Recent increases attributed water deficit (CMD), vapor pressure (VPD), evapotranspiration (ET), fuels. Fire species composition also Future likely impact forest resilience probability type conversions many ecosystems. Conclusions Increasing warming drying trends cause frequent severe disturbances near future. Large lasting legacies structure, tree regeneration. under certain fire-weather restoration fuel treatments reduce area burned at high from non-forest resistance wildland Thinning prescribed be effective reducing potential for crown promoting resilience.

Language: Английский

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A comprehensive survey of research towards AI-enabled unmanned aerial systems in pre-, active-, and post-wildfire management

Information Fusion, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 108, P. 102369 - 102369

Published: March 22, 2024

Wildfires have emerged as one of the most destructive natural disasters worldwide, causing catastrophic losses. These losses underscored urgent need to improve public knowledge and advance existing techniques in wildfire management. Recently, use Artificial Intelligence (AI) wildfires, propelled by integration Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) deep learning models, has created an unprecedented momentum implement develop more effective Although survey papers explored learning-based approaches wildfire, drone disaster management, risk assessment, a comprehensive review emphasizing application AI-enabled UAV systems investigating role methods throughout overall workflow multi-stage including pre-fire (e.g., vision-based vegetation fuel measurement), active-fire fire growth modeling), post-fire tasks evacuation planning) is notably lacking. This synthesizes integrates state-of-the-science reviews research at nexus observations modeling, AI, UAVs - topics forefront advances elucidating AI performing monitoring actuation from pre-fire, through stage, To this aim, we provide extensive analysis remote sensing with particular focus on advancements, device specifications, sensor technologies relevant We also examine management approaches, monitoring, prevention strategies, well planning, damage operation strategies. Additionally, summarize wide range computer vision emphasis Machine Learning (ML), Reinforcement (RL), Deep (DL) algorithms for classification, segmentation, detection, tasks. Ultimately, underscore substantial advancement modeling cutting-edge UAV-based data, providing novel insights enhanced predictive capabilities understand dynamic behavior.

Language: Английский

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Tamm review: A meta-analysis of thinning, prescribed fire, and wildfire effects on subsequent wildfire severity in conifer dominated forests of the Western US

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 561, P. 121885 - 121885

Published: April 5, 2024

Increased understanding of how mechanical thinning, prescribed burning, and wildfire affect subsequent severity is urgently needed as people forests face a growing crisis. In response, we reviewed scientific literature for the US West completed meta-analysis that answered three questions: (1) How much do treatments reduce within treated areas? (2) effects vary with treatment type, age, forest type? (3) does fire weather moderate treatments? We found overwhelming evidence thinning pile burning only are effective at reducing severity, resulting in reductions between 62% 72% relative to untreated areas. comparison, was less – underscoring importance treating surface fuels when mitigating management goal. The efficacy these did not among types assessed this study high across range conditions. Prior had more complex impacts on which varied type initial severity. Across types, effectiveness declined over time, mean reduction decreasing than twofold occurred greater 10 years after treatment. Our provides up-to-date information extent active reduces facilitates better outcomes during future events.

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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Advances in the study of global forest wildfires

Journal of Soils and Sediments, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 23(7), P. 2654 - 2668

Published: June 2, 2023

Abstract Purpose Wildfire is one of the most important natural disturbances in forest and multi-vegetation ecosystems, directly or indirectly affecting structural processes functions ecosystems with varying degrees. releases vast amounts carbon dioxide other substances by destroying vegetation, making itself an topic for study global change environmental impacts. Therefore, a deeper understanding this particularly crucial managing ecosystems. Methods This paper was based on literature search Web Science database international wildfire research, utilizing bibliometric quantity statistical analysis methods. Results The results show that research has been rapidly growing over last 20 years, number relevant articles generally increasing yearly at average annual growth rate about 22.45%. US tops list terms total independent publications, 3111 (49.88%). key journals publishing include 12 journals, Stephens S.L., Bergeron Y., Lindenmayer D.B. are contributing authors to field, institutions primarily concentrated Forest Service. Keyword co-occurrence shows current focused seven main areas. systematically reviewed progress hotspots recent decades, mainly focusing occurrences, severity, management, warning techniques wildfires, as well impact climate human activities wildfires. Conclusions concludes trends field have undergone significant evolution decades. future moves towards combination typical mechanisms large-scale effects across spatial temporal scales, deep integration aerospace earth observations precise simulations, discipline fusion, couplings research. We believe provides comprehensive systematic overview observation, prediction, investigation ecological effects.

Language: Английский

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Reducing Fire Severity and Extent Bolsters Subalpine Forest Resilience to Global Change Through Key Demographic Pathways

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT High‐elevation subalpine forests are experiencing rapid changes in climatic conditions, biological disturbances, and wildfire regimes. Despite this, evidence is mixed as to whether they will undergo major ecological transformation or be resilient a confluence of global change drivers. Here we use fir ( Abies lasiocarpa ) Englemann spruce Picea engelmannii ), which form co‐dominant through much the western United States, investigate how species' demographic responses influence forest community‐wide resilience. We do this by adapting building on an existing framework for post‐disturbance reorganization. With inventory data from States Forest Service Inventory Analysis (FIA) program, quantify population trends Engelmann across their joint distribution organize them new conceptual categorizing community trajectories. then build hierarchical Bayesian models mortality, regeneration, recruitment functions climate, disturbance extent severity, structural predictors. bring predictions together multinomial classification model combinations rates overall Finally, apply future climate scenarios our explore resilience may future. found strong negative relationships between demography both species line with energy‐limited system. Future scenario indicate that reducing severity can greatly bolster resilience; preferred way vary according fire history, type, biophysical setting, land tenure. Opportunities high‐impact management interventions concentrated northern Rocky Mountains, centers ongoing parts Oregon Washington Cascades.

Language: Английский

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Tamm Review: Ecological principles to guide post-fire forest landscape management in the Inland Pacific and Northern Rocky Mountain regions

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 504, P. 119680 - 119680

Published: Nov. 23, 2021

Language: Английский

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Active governance of agro-pastoral, forest and protected areas mitigates wildfire impacts in Italy

The Science of The Total Environment, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 890, P. 164281 - 164281

Published: May 20, 2023

Wildfire regimes affected by global change have been the cause of major concern in recent years. Both direct prevention (e.g., fuel management planning) and land governance strategies agroforestry development) can an indirect regulatory effect on wildfires. Herein, we tested hypothesis that active planning Italy mitigated wildfire impacts terms loss ecosystem services forest cover, burned wildland-urban interface, from 2007 to 2017. At national scale, assessed size potential fire drivers such as climate, weather, flammability, socio-economic descriptors, use changes, proxies for European funds rural development, investments sustainable management, agro-pastoral activities), including interactions, fire-related via Random Forest modelling Generalized Additive Mixed Model. Agro-forest districts (i.e., aggregations neighbouring municipalities with homogeneous agricultural characteristics) were used spatial units analysis. Our results confirm territories more show lower impacts, even under severe flammability climatic conditions. This study supports current regional, national, towards "fire resistant resilient landscapes" fostering agro-forestry, nature conservation integrated policies.

Language: Английский

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ECOSTRESS reveals pre‐fire vegetation controls on burn severity for Southern California wildfires of 2020

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(10), P. 1976 - 1989

Published: May 16, 2022

Aim Topography, climate and plant water stress influence the spatial patterns of burn severity (damage to soils vegetation associated with wildfires); however, relative importance these predictors remains contested. We hypothesized that high-resolution pre-fire stress, measured using evapotranspiration (ET), evaporative index (ESI) use efficiency (WUE), are strong severity. Location California, USA. Time period 2019–2020. Major taxa studied Forests, chaparral, oaks grasslands. Methods used random forest regression modelling remotely sensed ECOsystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) from spring–summer year before fires, represent autocorrelation, topography predict for six fires in Sierra Nevada Southern California Mountains. Results Plant was dominant predictor Mountains, autocorrelation Nevada. Elevation a leading both regions, greater predictability higher-elevation steeper terrain. Model results varied by type: grasslands had highest [R2 = .50 (high elevation); R2 .58 (steep)], followed savanna open shrublands, which typified chaparral-type .43 (savanna, high .40 (open shrubland, elevation)]. For grasslands, annual ET (R2 .58), consistent idea growing season grassland enhancement increases fuel availability. The also sensitive time day ECOSTRESS acquisition type. Afternoon high-elevation .50), morning were important steep-sloped woody .18). Main conclusions Our findings provide insights how antecedent predicts can inform monitoring management.

Language: Английский

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Spatial interactions among short‐interval fires reshape forest landscapes

Global Ecology and Biogeography, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 32(4), P. 586 - 602

Published: Jan. 30, 2023

Abstract Aim Ecological disturbances are increasing as climate warms, and how multiple interact spatially to drive landscape change is poorly understood. We quantified burn severity across fire regimes in reburned forest landscapes ask spatial patterns of high‐severity differ between sequential overlapping fires heterogeneity shaped by cumulative disturbance patterns. also characterized the amount configuration an emerging phenomenon: areas burned twice successive fires. Location Northwest USA. Time period 1984–2020. Major taxa studied Forests western continental Methods used a field‐calibrated atlas satellite‐measured diverse (more than three decades, >200 short‐interval fires) quantify metrics (>75% tree mortality) generalized linear models test differences individual following first second Results The severe wildfire patch size/configuration were generally similar regimes. However, produced recent that consistently more homogeneous after two fires, with greater distances remaining mature forest. Additionally, 19–25% affected at high both highlighting extent repeatedly severely disturbed forests. Main conclusions When individually heterogeneous overlap, mosaics can fit together like puzzle pieces, whereby twice‐burned composed large simple‐shaped patches interspersed small mature/old These outcomes interacting be mechanisms shifting ecosystem dynamics global unfolds reburns continue.

Language: Английский

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