Review of formal methodologies for wind–slope correction of wildfire rate of spread
Jason J. Sharples
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW@ADFA, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia; and Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, Level 5, 340 Albert St, East Melbourne, VIC 3002, Australia. Email: j.sharples@adfa.edu.au
International Journal of Wildland Fire 17(2) 179-193 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF06156
Submitted: 11 November 2006 Accepted: 18 October 2007 Published: 18 April 2008
Abstract
The effects of wind and topographic slope are important considerations when determining the rate and direction of spread of wildfires. Accordingly, most models used to predict the direction and rate of spread contain components designed to account for these effects. Over the years, a variety of different approaches have been developed. In the present manuscript, we examine the various mathematical models employed to account for the effects of wind and slope at a formal level, making comparisons where appropriate. The methods reviewed include scalar methods, which ignore the directional nature of wind and slope effects, as well as methods in which the effects of wind and slope are combined in a vectorial manner. Both empirical and physical models for wind–slope correction are considered.
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank G. Mills, R. McAlpine and J. S. Gould for their comments on a draft version of the present manuscript. Thanks are also due to D. X. Viegas, M. Alexander and F. Morandini for their helpful and friendly correspondence on this topic, and R. McRae, R. Weber, K. Tolhurst and D. Chong for illuminating discussions concerning wind–slope correction of fire rate of spread. The author also gratefully acknowledges the support of the Bushfire CRC and the anonymous reviewers whose suggestions helped broaden the context of the paper.
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