Using soil moisture information to better understand and predict wildfire danger: a review of recent developments and outstanding questions
Erik S. Krueger A * , Matthew R. Levi
B , Kevin O. Achieng B I , John D. Bolten C , J. D. Carlson D , Nicholas C. Coops E , Zachary A. Holden F , Brian I. Magi G , Angela J. Rigden H H and Tyson E. Ochsner A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
B Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
C NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland, USA.
D Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA.
E Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
F United States Forest Service, Missoula, Montana, USA.
G Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
H Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, USA, Irvine, California, USA.
I Present address: Department of Civil Engineering, DedanKimathi University of Technology, Private Bag 10143, Nyeri, Kenya.
* Correspondence to: erik.krueger@okstate.edu
International Journal of Wildland Fire 32(2) 111-132 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF22056
Submitted: 21 April 2022 Accepted: 21 October 2022 Published: 5 December 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of IAWF. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY).
Abstract
Soil moisture conditions are represented in fire danger rating systems mainly through simple drought indices based on meteorological variables, even though better sources of soil moisture information are increasingly available. This review summarises a growing body of evidence indicating that greater use of in situ, remotely sensed, and modelled soil moisture information in fire danger rating systems could lead to better estimates of dynamic live and dead herbaceous fuel loads, more accurate live and dead fuel moisture predictions, earlier warning of wildfire danger, and better forecasts of wildfire occurrence and size. Potential uses of soil moisture information in existing wildfire danger rating systems include (1) as a supplement or replacement for drought indices, (2) for live and (3) dead fuel moisture modelling, (4) for estimating herbaceous fuel curing, and (5) for estimating fuel loads. We identify key remaining research questions and note the logistical challenge of convincing wildfire professionals of the importance of soil moisture compared with more familiar wildfire danger metrics. While obstacles remain, the path forward is clear. Soil moisture information can and should be used to improve fire danger rating systems and contribute to more effective fire management for the protection of communities and ecosystems worldwide.
Keywords: fuel properties, in situ, modelling, remote sensing, review, soil moisture, wildfire, wildfire danger index, wildfire danger rating systems.
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