Article
Forestry
Larissa L. Yocom, Jeff Jenness, Peter Z. Fule, Andrea E. Thode
Summary: Reburned areas tend to have lower severity in initial fires, and different vegetation types show varying fire severity in initial fires and reburns. Considering wildfires as fuel treatments may be beneficial for certain forest ecosystems.
Article
Ecology
Alan H. Taylor, Helen M. Poulos, Jennifer Kluber, Rachel Issacs, Natalie Pawlikowski, Andrew M. Barton
Summary: This study used field measurements and remote sensing data of a 2011 wildfire to analyze the impact of twentieth century vegetation changes on fire severity patterns. The research found that vegetation changes since 1935 increased closed woodlands and shrublands, but the 2011 fire reversed this trend and increased vegetation type heterogeneity. Post-fire vegetation in plots shifted towards resprouting species, with terrain and weather being the main variables controlling fire severity at the landscape scale.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Mohammad Reza Ehsani, Stella Heflin, Christoforus Bayu Risanto, Ali Behrangi
Summary: Assessing the performance of precipitation products is crucial for building confidence in these datasets. In the semi-arid Southwest United States, where accurate precipitation quantification is vital for water resource management and flood mitigation, precipitation products often have large errors. This study evaluated the performance of precipitation products in Arizona and New Mexico during the monsoon seasons from 2002 to 2021, with a focus on the extreme years of 2020 and 2021. The results show that satellite products tend to capture interannual variations in precipitation rate but struggle with high-intensity events. Among the products, IMERG Final performs the best, with superior detection capacity for rainy days.
WEATHER AND CLIMATE EXTREMES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Guanjie Hou, Quanwang Li
Summary: An integrated procedure was developed to evaluate the firefighting capacity of a water distribution system (WDS) under the impacts of earthquakes and fires, taking into account uncertainties through Monte Carlo simulations. By defining the probability distribution of firefighting capacity and ignition numbers, the risk assessment of cities facing uncontrolled fires was achieved.
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. R. Molina, M. Ortega, F. Rodriguez Y. Silva
Summary: Climate change and accumulation of surface fuel are causing more severe fires globally. Prescribed fire can efficiently reduce wildfire hazards and manage fire-prone landscapes, but social and administrative constraints may arise on a larger scale. Science-based knowledge on fire behavior, fuel reduction, and tree impacts is essential for supporting prescribed fire use. Different ignition patterns can affect fire behavior, with strip-heading fire increasing spread rate and flame length, while flanking fire decreases spread rate. Spot-heading fire can reduce spread rate and flame length, but increase flame residence time at higher distances between points. The study aims to balance fire intensity and its impacts on trees, soil, and surface roots.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Qi Tong, Thomas Gernay
Summary: This paper proposes the use of hierarchical Bayesian modeling to predict the number of ignitions following earthquakes by analyzing influential variables affecting past ignitions and predicting future ignitions. The model efficiently extracts significant variables and accurately predicts ignition numbers, providing a useful tool for community resilience assessment.
Article
Ecology
Ewa Zin, Lukasz Kuberski, Igor Drobyshev, Mats Niklasson
Summary: This study provides a dendrochronological reconstruction of historical fire sizes in Central Europe and analyzes the minimum extent of fires in Bialowieza Forest. The research highlights the role of fire disturbance in the forest and shows the significant contribution of human-related ignitions. The findings contribute to the understanding of historic fires and provide baseline information for the conservation of European forests.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cooper J. Park, Nicole A. Caimi, Debbie C. Buecher, Ernest W. Valdez, Diana E. Northup, Cheryl P. Andam
Summary: The study revealed a significant genetic diversity and biosynthetic potential in Streptomyces isolates obtained from bat skin and fur. Even closely related strains showed large genomic variation. Non-ribosomal peptide synthetases, siderophores, and terpenes were consistently found in all genomes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosario Sanchez, Laura Rodriguez
Summary: The research identified 39 hydrogeological units in the border region between Mexico and the United States, covering an approximate area of 135,000 km2, where both countries share half of the area, with around 40% of the area reporting good to moderate aquifer potential and water quality.
Article
Ecology
Michelle L. Crabb, Matthew J. Clement, Andrew S. Jones, Kirby D. Bristow, Larisa E. Harding
Summary: This study investigates the habitat selection and home ranges of American black bears before and after the largest wildfire in Arizona history. The results show that after the fire, black bears continued to use all levels of burn severity and their home ranges did not expand.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ashraf J. Zaied, Hatim M. E. Geli, Andres F. Cibils, Mohammed N. Sawalhah, Jerry L. Holechek, Charlotte C. Gard, Saleh A. Idhirij, Melakeneh G. Gedefaw, Greg L. Torell
Summary: The study revealed that cattle and calf prices usually drop from October to January and peak in April. Inventory of replacement heifers and steers showed a negative relationship with cattle prices, while inventory of calves showed a positive relationship with calf prices. Cattle and calf prices exhibited a negative linear relationship with drought, and displayed 6- and 10-year cycles in their prices.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Garven M. Huntley, Rudy L. Luck, Michael E. Mullins, Nick K. Newberry
Summary: In this study, four naturally occurring zeolites were analyzed to confirm their identities as different species. Treatment with concentrated HCl acid resulted in chabazite-like species becoming amorphous, while clinoptilolite-like species remained stable. The zeolites showed increased surface area and improved lead ion removal capability after treatment.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Tomoaki Nishino
Summary: This study investigates the variability of the number of ignitions following hypothetical Nankai Trough earthquakes for municipal fire departments across Japan. Results show that for some municipal fire departments, the number of ignitions may exceed firefighting capability, indicating a need for measures to enhance firefighting capability and prevent ignitions.
FIRE SAFETY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. L. Tulley-Cordova, A. L. Putman, G. J. Bowen
Summary: The North American Monsoon (NAM) is a significant source of precipitation in the southwestern United States, particularly important for Native Americans like the Navajo Nation. However, little is known about the characteristics and hydrological significance of NAM in the region. A new 4-year record of stable isotopes in monsoon-season rainfall and water resources across the NN revealed a characteristic pattern of H and O enrichment associated with monsoonal precipitation.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Peng Liu, Zhida Yang, Xuesen Wang, Xiaobin Qiu, Yi Yang
Summary: This study proposes an approach to improve convective event forecasts by combining extrapolated reflectivity and a numerical model. The assimilation of pseudo-water vapor estimated from extrapolated reflectivity improves reflectivity and precipitation forecasting. The regional filtering method helps in limiting wet bias and suppressing spurious forecasts. The assimilation of a shorter time window prevents the introduction of more error into the analysis field.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)