Fuel conditions and fire behavior characteristics of managed Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris forests in Finland
Tanskanen H. (2007). Fuel conditions and fire behavior characteristics of managed Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris forests in Finland. https://doi.org/10.14214/df.40
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to analyze the impact of structural stand characteristics on ignition potential, surface fuel moisture, and fire behavior in Pinus sylvestris L. and Picea abies (L.) Karst stands in Finland and to explain stand-specific fire danger using the Canadian Fire Weather Index System and the Finnish Fire Risk Index. Additionally, the study analyzes the relationship between observed fire activity and fire weather indices at different stages of growing season.
Field experiments were carried out in Pinus sylvestris or Picea abies dominated stands during fire seasons 2001 and 2002. Observations on ignition potential, fuel moisture, and fire behavior were analyzed in relation to stand structure and the outputs of the Finnish and Canadian fire weather indices. Seasonal patterns of fire activity were examined based on national fire statistics 1996–2003, effective temperature sum, and the fire weather indices. Point fire ignition potential was highest in Pinus clear-cuts and lowest in closed Picea stands. Moss-dominated surface fuels were driest in clear-cut and sapling stage stands and presented the highest moisture content under closed Picea canopy. Pinus sylvestris stands carried fire under a wide range of fire weather conditions under which Picea abies stands failed to sustain fire. In the national fire records, the daily number of reported ignitions presented its highest value during late fire season whereas the daily area burned peaked most substantially during early season. The fire weather indices correlated significantly with ignition potential and fuel moisture but were unable to explain fire behavior in the experimental fires. During the initial and final stages of the growing season, fire activity was disconnected from weather-based fire danger ratings. Information on stand structure and season stage would benefit the assessment of fire danger in Finnish forest landscape for fire suppression and controlled burning purposes.
Keywords
fire weather;
stand structure;
ignition potential;
surface fuel moisture;
seasonality of fires
Published 21 May 2007
Views 3600
Available at https://doi.org/10.14214/df.40 | Download PDF
Original articles
Tanskanen, H., Venäläinen, A., Puttonen, P. and Granström, A. 2005. Impact of stand structure on surface fire ignition potential in Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris forests in southern Finland. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 35(2): 410-420.
https://doi.org/10.1139/X04-188
Tanskanen, H., Granström, A. Venäläinen, A. and Puttonen, P. Moisture dynamics of moss-dominated surface fuel in relation to the structure of Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris stands. Forest Ecology and Management 226: 189-198.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.01.048
Tanskanen, H., Granström, A., Larjavaara, M. and Puttonen, P. Experimental fire behavior in managed Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies stands of Finland. International Journal of Wildland Fire. (In press)
Tanskanen, H. & Venäläinen, A. Logistic probability modeling of forest fire activity based on fire weather and seasonal surface vegetation development in Finland. (Submitted manuscript)