Modifying the Canadian Fine Fuel Moisture Code for masticated surface fuels
T. J. Schiks A C and B. M. Wotton B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Faculty of Forestry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
B Canadian Forest Service, Great Lakes Forestry Centre, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada.
C Corresponding author. Email: tom.schiks@mail.utoronto.ca
International Journal of Wildland Fire 24(1) 79-91 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF14041
Submitted: 22 March 2014 Accepted: 8 August 2014 Published: 26 November 2014
Abstract
Mechanical mastication is a fuel management technique that disrupts the vertical continuity of forest fuels by shredding of trees and understory vegetation into a highly compacted surface fuel bed. Despite the increasing application of mastication to manage wildfire risk, there is little information to date on fuel moisture in masticated fuels and optimal ignition patterns for prescribed burning. We investigated the applicability of the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC), a component of the Canadian Fire Weather Index (FWI) System, in tracking the diurnal and day-to-day changes in masticated surface fuel moisture, and developed a calibration of the standard conversion between moisture content and FFMC via regression modelling. We also proposed several modifications to the FFMC model (including a solar radiation driven fuel temperature) to better estimate the fuel-specific parameters of small diameter (<1 cm) masticated surface fuels. Model validation was performed using destructive moisture content observations from a mastication treatment in west-central Alberta, Canada. A calibrated form of the moisture content to FFMC conversion produced mean error of –2.3% moisture content, and closely resembled previous FWI System calibrations for fast drying surface fuels. Our modified FFMC-based model fit well with field observations, and was capable of producing mean error of 1.0% moisture content. The fast drying that we observed highlights the need to better understand moisture dynamics of masticated fuel beds.
Additional keywords: chipping, mechanical fuel treatment, moisture dynamics.
References
Abbott KN, Alexander ME, MacLean DA, Leblon B, Beck JA, Staples GC (2007) Predicting forest floor moisture for burned and unburned Pinus banksiana forests in the Canadian Northwest Territories. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 71–80.| Predicting forest floor moisture for burned and unburned Pinus banksiana forests in the Canadian Northwest Territories.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Agee JK, Skinner CN (2005) Basic principles of forest fuel reduction treatments. Forest Ecology and Management 211, 83–96.
| Basic principles of forest fuel reduction treatments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Aguado I, Chuvieco E, Boren R, Nieto H (2007) Estimation of dead fuel moisture content from meteorological data in Mediterranean areas. Applications in fire danger assessment. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 390–397.
| Estimation of dead fuel moisture content from meteorological data in Mediterranean areas. Applications in fire danger assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Allen RG, Trezza R, Tasumi M (2006) Analytical integrated functions for daily solar radiation on slopes. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 139, 55–73.
| Analytical integrated functions for daily solar radiation on slopes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Alves MVG, Batista AC, Soares RV, Ottaviano M, Marchetti M (2009) Fuel moisture sampling and modeling in Pinus elliottii Engelm. plantations based on weather conditions in Parana, Brazil. iForest – Biogeosciences and Forestry 2, 99–103.
| Fuel moisture sampling and modeling in Pinus elliottii Engelm. plantations based on weather conditions in Parana, Brazil.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anderson HE (1990) Moisture diffusivity and response time in fine forest fuels. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 20, 315–325.
| Moisture diffusivity and response time in fine forest fuels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Anderson SAJ, Anderson WR (2009) Predicting the elevated dead fine fuel moisture content in gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) shrub fuels. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 39, 2355–2368.
| Predicting the elevated dead fine fuel moisture content in gorse (Ulex europaeus L.) shrub fuels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Battaglia MA, Rocca ME, Rhoades CC, Ryan MG (2010) Surface fuel loadings within mulching treatments in Colorado coniferous forests. Forest Ecology and Management 260, 1557–1566.
| Surface fuel loadings within mulching treatments in Colorado coniferous forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baumgartner A, Enders G, Kirchner M, Mayer H (1982) Global climatology. In ‘Engineering meteorology’ (Ed. Plate EJ) Elsevier Scientific Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. pp. 125–177.
Beckingham JD, Archibald JH (1996) Field guide to ecosites of northern Alberta. Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre, Special Report No. 5.
Bianchi LO, Defosse GE (2014) Ignition probability of fine dead surface fuels in native Patagonia forests of Argentina. Forest Systems 23, 129–138.
| Ignition probability of fine dead surface fuels in native Patagonia forests of Argentina.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bigelow SW, North MP (2012) Microclimate effects of fuels-reduction and group-selection silviculture: Implications for fire behavior in Sierran mixed-conifer forests. Forest Ecology and Management 264, 51–59.
| Microclimate effects of fuels-reduction and group-selection silviculture: Implications for fire behavior in Sierran mixed-conifer forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blackmarr WH (1971) Equilibrium moisture content of common fine fuels found in southeastern forests. USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Research Paper SE-74. (Ashville, NC)
Brewer NW, Smith AMS, Higuera PE, Hatten JA, Hudak AT, Ottmar RD, Tinkham WT (2013) Fuel moisture influences on fire-altered carbon in masticated fuels: an experimental study. Journal of Geophysical Research 118, 30–40.
Byram GM (1963) An analysis of the drying process in forest fuel material. In ‘The 1963 International Symposium on Humidity and Moisture’, 20–23 May 1963, Washington, DC.
Byram GM, Jemison GM (1943) Solar radiation and forest fuel moisture. Journal of Agricultural Research 67, 149–176.
Catchpole EA, Catchpole WR, Viney NR, McCaw WL, Marsden-Smedley JB (2001) Estimating fuel response time and predicting fuel moisture content from field data. International Journal of Wildland Fire 10, 215–222.
| Estimating fuel response time and predicting fuel moisture content from field data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
de Groot WJ, Wardati , Wang YH (2005) Calibrating the fine fuel moisture code for grass ignition potential in Sumatra, Indonesia. International Journal of Wildland Fire 14, 161–168.
| Calibrating the fine fuel moisture code for grass ignition potential in Sumatra, Indonesia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Deeming JE, Burgan RE, Cohen JD (1977) The National Fire-Danger Rating System–1978. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, General Technical Report INT-39. (Ogden, UT)
Esprey LJ, Sands PJ, Smith CW (2004) Understanding 3-PG using a sensitivity analysis. Forest Ecology and Management 193, 235–250.
| Understanding 3-PG using a sensitivity analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Glitzenstein JS, Streng DR, Achtemeier GL, Naeher LP, Wade DD (2006) Fuels and fire behaviour in chipped and unchipped plots: Implications for land management near the wildland/urban interface. Forest Ecology and Management 236, 18–29.
| Fuels and fire behaviour in chipped and unchipped plots: Implications for land management near the wildland/urban interface.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Guan BT, Weng SH, Kuo SR, Chang TY, Hsu HW, Shen CW (2006) Analyzing the effects of stand thinning on microclimates with semiparametric smoothing splines. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36, 1641–1648.
| Analyzing the effects of stand thinning on microclimates with semiparametric smoothing splines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kane JM, Varner JM, Knapp EE (2009) Novel fuelbed characteristics associated with mechanical mastication treatments in northern California and south-western Oregon, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 686–697.
| Novel fuelbed characteristics associated with mechanical mastication treatments in northern California and south-western Oregon, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kreye JK, Varner JM (2007) Moisture dynamics in masticated fuel beds: a preliminary analysis. In ‘The Fire Environment – Innovations Management, and Policy: Conference Proceedings’. (Eds Butler BW, Cook W) USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Proceedings RMRS-P-46, pp. 173–186. (Fort Collins, CO)
Kreye JK, Varner JM, Knapp EE (2011) Effects of particle fracturing and moisture content on fire behaviour in masticated fuel beds burned in a laboratory. International Journal of Wildland Fire 20, 308–317.
| Effects of particle fracturing and moisture content on fire behaviour in masticated fuel beds burned in a laboratory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kreye JK, Varner JM, Knapp EE (2012) Moisture desorption in mechanically masticated fuels: effects of particle fracturing and fuelbed compaction. International Journal of Wildland Fire 21, 894–904.
| Moisture desorption in mechanically masticated fuels: effects of particle fracturing and fuelbed compaction.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kreye JK, Brewer NW, Morgan P, Varner JM, Smith AMS, Hoffman CM, Ottmar RD (2014) Fire behavior in masticated fuels: A review. Forest Ecology and Management 314, 193–207.
| Fire behavior in masticated fuels: A review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lawson BD, Dalrymple GN (1996) Ground-truthing the Drought Code: field verification of overwinter recharge of forest floor moisture. Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, FRDA Report 268. (Victoria, BC)
Lawson BD, Dalrymple GN, Hawkes BC (1997) Predicting forest floor moisture contents from duff moisture code values. Canadian Forest Service, Pacific Forestry Centre, Technology Transfer Note 6. (Victoria, BC)
Luke RH, McArthur AG (1978) Bush fires in Australia. Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra, ACT.
Ma S, Oakley B, North M, Chen J (2010) Spatial variability in microclimate in a mixed-conifer forest before and after thinning and burning treatments. Forest Ecology and Management 259, 904–915.
| Spatial variability in microclimate in a mixed-conifer forest before and after thinning and burning treatments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marsden-Smedley J, Catchpole WR (2001) Fire modelling in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands. III. Dead fuel moisture. International Journal of Wildland Fire 10, 241–253.
| Fire modelling in Tasmanian buttongrass moorlands. III. Dead fuel moisture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Matthews S (2006) A process-based model of fine fuel moisture. International Journal of Wildland Fire 15, 155–168.
| A process-based model of fine fuel moisture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Matthews S (2007) Testing a process-based fine fuel moisture model in two forest types. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 37, 23–35.
| Testing a process-based fine fuel moisture model in two forest types.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Matthews S, Gould J, McCaw L (2010) Simple models for predicting dead fuel moisture in eucalyptus forests. International Journal of Wildland Fire 19, 459–467.
| Simple models for predicting dead fuel moisture in eucalyptus forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mell W, Jenkins MA, Gould J, Cheney P (2007) A physics-based approach to modelling grassland fires. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 1–22.
| A physics-based approach to modelling grassland fires.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Meyer CL, Sisk TD, Covington WW (2001) Microclimatic changes induced by ecological restoration of ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona. Restoration Ecology 9, 443–452.
| Microclimatic changes induced by ecological restoration of ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nelson RM (1984) A method for describing equilibrium moisture content of forest fuels. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 14, 597–600.
| A method for describing equilibrium moisture content of forest fuels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Otway SG, Bork EW, Anderson KR, Alexander ME (2007) Relating changes in duff moisture to the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System in Populus tremuloides stands in Elk Island National Park. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 37, 1987–1998.
| Relating changes in duff moisture to the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Index System in Populus tremuloides stands in Elk Island National Park.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pook EW, Gill AM (1993) Variation of live and dead fine fuel moisture in Pinus radiata plantations of the Australian-Capital-Territory. International Journal of Wildland Fire 3, 155–168.
| Variation of live and dead fine fuel moisture in Pinus radiata plantations of the Australian-Capital-Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Prévost M, Pothier D (2003) Partial cuts in a trembling aspen conifer stand: effects on microenvironmental conditions and regeneration dynamics. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 33, 1–15.
| Partial cuts in a trembling aspen conifer stand: effects on microenvironmental conditions and regeneration dynamics.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rambo TR, North MP (2009) Canopy microclimate response to pattern and density of thinning in a Sierra Nevada forest. Forest Ecology and Management 257, 435–442.
| Canopy microclimate response to pattern and density of thinning in a Sierra Nevada forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ray D, Nepstad D, Brando P (2010) Predicting moisture dynamics of fine understory fuels in a moist tropical rainforest system: results of a pilot study undertaken to identify proxy variables useful for rating fire danger. New Phytologist 187, 720–732.
| Predicting moisture dynamics of fine understory fuels in a moist tropical rainforest system: results of a pilot study undertaken to identify proxy variables useful for rating fire danger.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20618913PubMed |
Rothermel RC (1972) A mathematical model for predicting fire spread in wildland fuels. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Research Paper INT-115. (Ogden, UT)
Ruiz-Gonzalez AD, Vega Hidalgo JA, Alvarez Gonzalez JG (2009) Modelling hourly variability in Eucalyptus globulus litter moisture content. Investigación Agraria-Sistemas y Recursos Forestales 18, 247–263.
Schaap M, Bouten W, Verstranen J (1997) Forest floor water content dynamics in a Douglas-fir stand. Journal of Hydrology 201, 367–383.
| Forest floor water content dynamics in a Douglas-fir stand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schiks TJ (2014) Fuel moisture and sustained flaming in masticated fuelbeds (MSc Thesis, University of Toronto).
Sellers WD (1965) Physical climatology. The Univeristy of Chicago Press. Chicago, Illinois. 272 pp.
Sharples JJ, McRae RHD, Weber RO, Gill AM (2009) A simple index for assessing fuel moisture content. Environmental Modelling & Software 24, 637–646.
| A simple index for assessing fuel moisture content.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Simard AJ (1968) The moisture content of forest fuels-I: a review of the basic concepts. Canadian Department of Forest and Rural Development, Forest Fire Research Institute, Information Report FF-X-14. (Ottawa, ON)
Van Wagner CE (1969) Combined effect of sun and wind on surface temperature of litter. Canadian Forest Service, Petawawa Forest Experiment Station, Information Report PS-X-36. (Chalk River, ON)
Van Wagner CE (1972) Equilibrium moisture contents of some fine forest fuels in eastern Canada. Canadian Forest Service, Petawawa Forest Experiment Station, Information Report PS-X-36. (Chalk River, ON)
Van Wagner CE (1977) Method of Computing Fine Fuel Moisture Content Throughout the Diurnal Cycle. Canadian Forest Service, Petawawa Forest Experiment Station, Information Report PS-X-69. (Chalk River, ON)
Van Wagner CE (1987) Development and structure of the Canadian forest fire weather index system. Canadian Forest Service, Petawawa Forest Experiment Station, Forestry Technical Report 35. (Chalk River, ON)
Van Wagner CE, Pickett TL (1985) Equations and FORTRAN program for the Canadian forest fire weather index system. Canadian Forest Service, Petawawa National Forestry Institute, Forestry Technical Report 33. (Chalk River, ON)
Viney NR (1991) A review of fine fuel moisture modelling. International Journal of Wildland Fire 1, 215–234.
| A review of fine fuel moisture modelling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viney NR, Catchpole EA (1991) Estimating fuel moisture response times from field observations. International Journal of Wildland Fire 1, 211–214.
| Estimating fuel moisture response times from field observations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Viney NR, Hatton TJ (1990) Modelling the effect of condensation on the moisture content of forest litter. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 51, 51–62.
| Modelling the effect of condensation on the moisture content of forest litter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weise DR, Fujioka FM, Nelson RM (2005) A comparison of three models of 1-h time lag fuel moisture in Hawaii. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 133, 28–39.
| A comparison of three models of 1-h time lag fuel moisture in Hawaii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weng SH, Kuo SR, Guan BT, Chang TY, Hsu HW, Shen CW (2007) Microclimatic responses to different thinning intensities in a Japanese cedar plantation of northern Taiwan. Forest Ecology and Management 241, 91–100.
| Microclimatic responses to different thinning intensities in a Japanese cedar plantation of northern Taiwan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Whitehead RJ, Russo GL, Hawkes BC, Taylor SW, Brown BN, Barclay HJ, Benton RA (2006) Effect of a spaced thinning in mature lodgepole pine on within-stand microclimate and fine fuel moisture content. In ‘Fuels Management: How to measure success—Conference Proceedings’. (Eds Andrews PL, BW Butler) USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Proceedings RMRS-P-41, pp. 523–536. (Fort Collins, CO)
Wilmore B (2001) Duff moisture dynamics in black spruce feather moss stands and their relation to the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (MSc Thesis, University of Alaska Fairbanks).
Wotton BM (2009a) A grass moisture model for the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System. In ‘Eigth Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology’, 13–15 October 2009, Kalispell, MT. (American Meteorological Society: Boston, MA).
Wotton BM (2009b) Interpreting and using outputs from the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System in research applications. Environmental and Ecological Statistics 16, 107–131.
| Interpreting and using outputs from the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System in research applications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXltVCgs7w%3D&md5=eca6b8a722b052dbaa67c2891e3d0c12CAS |
Wotton BM, Beverly JL (2007) Stand-specific litter moisture content calibrations for the Canadian Fine Fuel Moisture Code. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 463–472.
| Stand-specific litter moisture content calibrations for the Canadian Fine Fuel Moisture Code.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
