Rangeland Ecology & Management

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FLAMMABILITY THRESHOLDS OF EASTERN REDCEDAR AS A POTENTIAL INDICATOR FOR HEIGHTENED WILDFIRE DANGER.
Author
Bielski, Christine H.
Twidwell, Dirac
Elmore, Robert D.
Engle, David M.
Fuhlendorf, Samuel D.
Hovick, Torre J.
Thacker, Eric
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2016
Body

Trees planted as a part of horticultural and conservation practices might not have posed a threat to wildfire under historic climate analogues, but with increased frequency and severity of drought events projected to occur by the end of the century, the traits of some species will cause them to contribute to heightened wildfire danger in coming decades. Foliar fuel moisture content (FMC) plays a key role in determining foliar flammability, with lower FMC associated with higher wildfire risk. Quantifying tipping points in flammability is crucial if we are to have a better understanding of when wildfire risks are highest. Our study quantified thresholds in flammability of Eastern redcedar (J. virginiana), an invasive native tree commonly planted throughout the Great Plains. Using a MC320LHT thermal imaging camera, we captured three common characteristics of flammability: ignitibility (time to ignition), sustainability (time-spent combusting), and combustibility (velocity/intensity of combustion). Foliar samples were 6 cm in length and were harvested from female Eastern red cedar trees ranging from 3-4 m in height in Seward County, NE. FMC classes ranged from 0% - 180% in 10% intervals. Each FMC class was subjected to flammability tests under a laboratory vent hood with no forced airflow. A Bunsen burner provided the pilot flame and a thermal imaging camera was used to record time of ignition, time-spent combusting, flame height, and temperature of the combusting sample. Our data demonstrate that flammability thresholds exist for J. virginiana and are expressed through measurements of ignitibility and combustibility. At FMC's of approximately 60%, time to ignition rapidly decreases and the intensity of combustion rapidly increases. Based on these findings, the flammability of J. virginiana and its associated wildfire risk is much higher during periods of drought and should be considered as part of wildfire danger monitoring protocols in the Great Plains region.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Corpus Christi, TX