Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Esteban Alonso-Gonzalez, Victor Fernandez-Garcia
Summary: The study presented the first global burn severity database (MOSEV database) based on MODIS data, comparing it with Landsat-8 scenes with 30-meter resolution, showing a high correlation between the two datasets. The database is structured according to the MODIS tiling system and is freely downloadable.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Ismail Bekar, G. Boris Pezzatti, Marco Conedera, Harald Vacik, Juli G. Pausas, Sylvain Dupire, Harald Bugmann
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of the newly developed Cumulative Logarithmic Area Ranking Efficiency (CLARE) index in predicting burned areas under different regional and modeling conditions. The results showed that a high Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve (AUC) in fire occurrence models does not necessarily indicate high performance in predicting burned areas. Using a multi-variable modeling approach, particularly among models with high AUC, is likely to provide better CLARE performance than using single-variable fire index models. Additionally, this approach led to better multi-variable meteorological model performance than single-variable fire index models in regions where fire index calculation is not possible.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anastasios Rovithakis, Manolis G. Grillakis, Konstantinos D. Seiradakis, Christos Giannakopoulos, Anna Karali, Robert Field, Mihalis Lazaridis, Apostolos Voulgarakis
Summary: Recent studies have shown that temperature and precipitation in the Mediterranean are expected to change, contributing to longer and more intense summer droughts and likely increasing the frequency and intensity of forest fires. The assessment of future fire danger conditions in different regions of Greece using the Canadian fire weather index (FWI) reveals that fire danger is expected to progressively increase, especially in the high-end climate change scenario.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mohamed Elhag, Silvena Boteva
Summary: The CFFDRS and NFFDRS were tested in Mediterranean forest conditions of Crete Island, showing differences in their performance in fire hazard assessment, indicating that no single system can adequately predict both soil moisture and plant moisture at the same time.
ENVIRONMENT DEVELOPMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Josep G. Canadell, C. P. (Mick) Meyer, Garry D. Cook, Andrew Dowdy, Peter R. Briggs, Jurgen Knauer, Acacia Pepler, Vanessa Haverd
Summary: The frequency and area of forest fires in Australia have significantly increased in recent decades, mainly due to dangerous fire weather conditions caused by warmer temperatures and circulation changes. The trend of burned area in Australia's forests shows a linear positive annual trend but an exponential increase during autumn and winter.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Claude Pagnon Eriksson, Nils Johansson, Margaret McNamee
Summary: This study compares the performance of four different weather-based wildfire danger indices in predicting wildfire activity under Swedish conditions. The indices were ranked based on their correlation with wildfire data in seven regions, with three of them showing significantly higher correlation. The Fire Weather Index, currently used in Sweden and developed in Canada, was identified as a suitable choice for predicting wildfire danger in Sweden.
Article
Forestry
Miguel G. Cruz, Martin E. Alexander, Paulo M. Fernandes
Summary: The study suggests that there is a gradual diminishing effect of fuel characteristics on fire spread in certain forest ecosystem types, but this effect is not observable under extreme fire danger conditions. Empirical-based fire spread models often fail to adequately capture this effect.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavio Justino, David H. Bromwich, Sheng-Hung Wang, Daniel Althoff, Vanucia Schumacher, Alex da Silva
Summary: Recent studies have shown that wildfires in tropical regions have become more severe, with increasing burnt area. This study investigates the impact of oceanic climate modes and their teleconnection on global fire danger and trends. It reveals that temperature increases primarily drive fire trends in extratropical regions, while changes in short-term precipitation dominate trends in tropical regions. The influence of short-term precipitation is also dependent on local vegetation type and closely related to oceanic temperatures far from the burned areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Maombi Mbusa Masinda, Fei Li, Liu Qi, Long Sun, Tongxin Hu
Summary: The study investigates the factors influencing dead fuel moisture content in a typical temperate forest in Northeastern China and evaluates the applicability of the Canadian forest fire weather index for determining daily forest fire danger. The results show a high percentage of similarity between observed and predicted values of FMC, suggesting the efficacy of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Rating System in assessing fire danger in the region. Additionally, the study recommends increasing the number of meteorological stations in fire-prone areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavie Pelletier, Bianca N. Eskelson, Vicente J. Monleon, Yi-Chin Tseng
Summary: Accurate assessment of burn severity after wildfires is crucial as their frequency and size increase. Remotely-sensed imagery allows for rapid assessment, but requires field validation. This study used ground-based inventory data and remotely-sensed data to determine the best matching methods for burn severity assessments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francesca Di Giuseppe
Summary: A new fire danger index, the fire occurrence probability index (FOPI), is proposed to better predict landscape flammability by combining the Canadian fire weather index (FWI) with remote observations of vegetation characteristics. The FOPI aims to improve fire danger predictions in fuel-limited environments and outperforms the FWI in arid biomes while remaining comparable where fuel is abundant.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Miroslav Trnka, Martin Mozny, Frantisek Jurecka, Jan Balek, Daniela Semeradova, Petr Hlavinka, Petr Stepanek, Ales Farda, Petr Skalak, Emil Cienciala, Petr Cermak, Filip Chuchma, Pavel Zahradnicek, Dalibor Janous, Milan Fischer, Zdenek Zalud, Rudolf Brazdil
Summary: The major wildfires in countries like Portugal, Italy, Spain, and Sweden indicate a risk of wildfires across Europe. In the Czech Republic, there has been an increasing trend in fuel aridity levels in the past decades, with the trend accelerating after the year 2000. The future projections suggest a significant increase in fuel aridity and the area under fire-conducive conditions, with fuel aridity explaining more than 2/3 of the reported wildfire variability in the Czech Republic.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Weiwei Wang, Xianli Wang, Wanli Wu, Futao Guo, Jane Park, Guangyu Wang
Summary: This study investigated the burn severity in the Canadian Rocky Mountain region using satellite imagery. It found that fuel type had the most significant influence on burn severity, while topography, vegetation, and climate had equal contributions. The study also predicted the burn severity potential in different areas and highlighted the effectiveness of fire management in local communities.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jose Manuel Fernandez-Guisuraga, Samuel Martins, Paulo M. Fernandes
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between fire behavior and environmental controls in mainland Portugal, finding that forest type and extreme weather are major factors contributing to the size and severity of wildfires. The results suggest that, in the context of global change, pre-fire fuel management should prioritize expanding the weather conditions under which fire control is possible and promoting the growth of less flammable and more resilient forest types.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
F. Di Giuseppe, A. Benedetti, R. Coughlan, C. Vitolo, M. Vuckovic
Summary: This study improves estimates of fire emissions by using above ground biomass as a proxy observation for fuel load, eliminating the need for indirect estimates from remotely sensed data or inflation factors.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Willem Proesmans, Christopher Andrews, Alan Gray, Rob Griffiths, Aidan Keith, Uffe N. Nielsen, David Spurgeon, Richard Pywell, Bridget Emmett, Adam J. Vanbergen
Summary: Cattle grazing has profound effects on the abiotic and biotic characteristics of forest ecosystems, including modifications to soil environment and changes in microbial and invertebrate communities.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Wuquan Cui, Yuqi Hu, Guillermo Rein
Summary: Laboratory experiments were conducted to improve the understanding of how peat conditions and the ignition protocol influence the ignition probability. The new ignition protocol of stopping the heat source when 10% mass of the sample is lost was found to be robust in initiating self-sustained smouldering. Results show that moisture content plays a major role in the ignition probability, but bulk density is also important.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMBUSTION INSTITUTE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Wanderson Novais, Benjamin A. Wenner, Jeremy A. Block, Simon C. Power, Elizabeth Porteus, G. Matt Davies
Summary: Oak and hickory recruitment in eastern North American forests is hindered by invasive species. Conservation grazing, using goats, can help control invasives. This study found that goats preferred native spicebush but did increase browsing of invasive multiflora rose over time. High browsing pressure and species identity were good predictors of intake. This research shows that conservation grazing is effective for reducing biomass of invasives in oak-hickory forests.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2023)
Review
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Harry Mitchell, Panagiotis Kotsovinos, Franz Richter, Daniel Thomson, David Barber, Guillermo Rein
Summary: Using mass timber in buildings has advantages in sustainability, aesthetics, construction times, and costs. However, the lack of data on safety and structural performance in fire is hindering its use in medium and high-rise buildings. By reviewing available data from previous experiments, this paper identifies correlations and highlights the need for further research to improve fire-safe design for timber buildings.
FIRE AND MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Panagiotis Kotsovinos, Eirik G. Christensen, Adam Glew, Eoin O'Loughlin, Harry Mitchell, Rikesh Amin, Fabienne Robert, Mohammad Heidari, David Barber, Guillermo Rein, Judith Schulz
Summary: The use of mass timber in construction offers a solution to the high carbon footprint of traditional construction materials, but fire safety standards need to catch up. Encapsulation is commonly used to protect timber surfaces and reduce fire risks.
FIRE AND MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Zhenwen Hu, Xuanze He, Francesco Restuccia, Guillermo Rein
Summary: Recent studies have shown that self-heating ignition can occur when Lithium-ion batteries are stacked in large numbers during storage. The understanding of this ignition type is limited and current studies mainly rely on numerical modelling. This study benchmarks COMSOL Multiphysics and Gpyro, two modelling tools commonly used in thermal-electrochemical behaviour and solid fuel ignition modelling, respectively, and finds that both tools can accurately predict the critical conditions for self-heating ignition, validating their use in studying LIB safety.
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Matthew Bonner, Wojciech Wegrzynski, Guillermo Rein
Summary: This paper presents a novel algorithm, Visual Fire Power, which utilizes video footage captured by two cameras to measure the heat release rate of a turbulent flame. By measuring the time-averaged volume of the fire, this algorithm provides an alternative method for measuring heat release rate and comparing flame performances in different scenarios.
Article
Engineering, Industrial
Harry Mitchell, Steve Gwynne, Enrico Ronchi, Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos, Guillermo Rein
Summary: The hazards of wildfires are significantly increased when it reaches the wildland-urban interface. This paper presents a framework for developing evacuation triggers that take into account both fire spread and community evacuation. By coupling wildfire and evacuation models, the PERIL tool was applied to real communities, demonstrating its potential to inform safer strategies for protecting rural communities threatened by wildfires.
Letter
Biodiversity Conservation
Wayne Dawson, Jodey M. Peyton, Oliver L. Pescott, Tim Adriaens, Elizabeth J. Cottier-Cook, Danielle S. Frohlich, Gillian Key, Chris Malumphy, Angeliki F. Martinou, Dan Minchin, Niall Moore, Wolfgang Rabitsch, Stephanie L. Rorke, Elena Tricarico, Katharine M. A. Turvey, Ian J. Winfield, David K. A. Barnes, Diane Baum, Keith Bensusan, Frederic J. Burton, Peter Carr, Peter Convey, Alison I. Copeland, Darren A. Fa, Liza Fowler, Emili Garcia-Berthou, Albert Gonzalez, Pablo Gonzalez-Moreno, Alan Gray, Richard W. Griffiths, Rhian Guillem, Antenor N. Guzman, Jane Haakonsson, Kevin A. Hughes, Ross James, Leslie Linares, Norbert Maczey, Stuart Mailer, Bryan Naqqi Manco, Stephanie Martin, Andrea Monaco, David G. Moverley, Christine Rose-Smyth, Jonathan Shanklin, Natasha Stevens, Alan J. Stewart, Alexander G. C. Vaux, Stephen J. Warr, Victoria Werenkaut, Helen E. Roy
Summary: Invasive non-native species pose a significant threat to island biodiversity, ecosystems, and economies. Preventing the introduction of high-risk species is the most cost-effective approach to mitigate their adverse impacts. A horizon scanning approach identified high-risk species and pathways in the United Kingdom Overseas Territories, providing guidance for biosecurity and surveillance efforts aimed at preventing future incursions.
CONSERVATION LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
G. Matt Davies, Alan Gray, Simon C. Power, Rut Domenech
Summary: Peatland ecosystems play a crucial role in global conservation and the environment, but are threatened by livestock grazing, land-use change, drainage, and wildfire. Little is known about the effects of wildfires on peatlands in the UK, and our study aimed to evaluate the impact of wildfires on plant communities across different vegetation communities, soil types, and burn severities. We found that heathland communities with shallow organic soils experienced the greatest burn severity and reductions in plant diversity, highlighting the importance of managing wildfires to protect peatland ecosystems.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
R. Lovreglio, X. Wang, G. Rein
Article
Forestry
Dwi M. J. Purnomo, Sebastian Apers, Michel Bechtold, Parwati Sofan, Guillermo Rein
Summary: This study simulated peatland wildfires at the field scale, taking into account daily variations of peat moisture. The results showed that considering the daily moisture variations can significantly impact the size and severity of the wildfires.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Muhammad A. Santoso, Eirik G. Christensen, Guillermo Rein
Summary: This study demonstrates the influence of pulsating wind on the transition from smouldering to flaming. The transition occurs, on average, approximately 39% earlier with pulsating wind compared to continuous wind. Pulsating wind enhances the transition by temporarily eliminating the cooling and dilution effects of the wind.
FIRE SAFETY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Simona Dossi, Birgitte Messerschmidt, Luis Mario Ribeiro, Miguel Almeida, Guillermo Rein
Summary: The study develops a Wildfire Resistance Index (WRI) to assess the relationship between building features and wildfire damage. The index is validated using data from California, USA, and Portugal. The results show a significant correlation between WRI and wildfire damage in both regions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Charles D. Minsavage-Davis, G. Matt Davies
Summary: Land-use, climate, and policy changes have affected the fire regimes in northern Europe, particularly heathlands in oceanic climates. Traditional prescribed burning enhances these ecosystems' diversity and productivity. Fire behavior prediction models are essential for sustainable fire risk management in these areas. Our research evaluates the accuracy of empirical and quasi-empirical prediction models and software tools against fire behavior observations. The Rothermel model and its implementations provide accurate predictions of fire spread rates, while the generic shrubland empirical model consistently overpredicts spread rates for prescribed burns in specific fuel structures.
Article
Forestry
Sadadi Ojoatre, Jos Barlow, Suzanne R. Jacobs, Mariana C. Rufino
Summary: This study evaluates the changes in a forest complex in Kenya and finds that within 20 years of disturbance, there is rapid recovery of aboveground biomass and carbon accumulation, and the species diversity remains high in these previously disturbed fragments.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Astor Torano Caicoya, Peter Biber, Miren del Rio, Ricardo Ruiz-Peinado, Catia Arcangeli, Robert Matthews, Hans Pretzsch
Summary: This study analyzed the effects of site and climate on the self-thinning line in Scots pine forests in Europe. The results showed that species tolerance, temperature, and precipitation influenced the slope of the self-thinning line. In terms of the intercept, latitude and radiation had compensating effects. Time did not show significant trends in the self-thinning line. The study highlights the need to adapt management strategies and models based on self-thinning to different latitudes. Climate change has not yet significantly impacted the self-thinning trajectory, but a continuous rise in temperature and high precipitation may accelerate the self-thinning process and result in increased biomass accumulation.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Haonan Zhang, Jianing Xu, Weiqi Meng, Zhonglin Li, Yanyan Ni, Weijie Li, Hao Chen, Xingshuo Zhang, Huanhuan Yuan, Zhi Wang
Summary: Secondary forests play a crucial role in ecosystem dynamics and biodiversity recovery. This study investigated the mechanisms underlying secondary succession in a restored secondary forest and found that deciduous tree species transition from diversity accumulators to repellents as they progress through different life history stages, while evergreen tree species can act as accumulators or remain neutral. The study also revealed the effects of density dependence on the mortality and regeneration of different tree species, and highlighted the importance of early-arriving tree species in facilitating the establishment and diversity of late-arriving counterparts.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Yierxiati Abulaiti, Zijian Huang, Guojiao Xie, Xiaojuan Zou, Qin Luo, Minhuang Wang, Qiong Yang, Ping Hu, Shixiao Yu
Summary: In this study, the resistance to pest infestation of native and exotic mangrove species was compared based on their traits and spectral reflectance. The results showed that exotic species exhibited higher resistance to pest infestation compared to native species.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Thomas Feiss, Vincent Robin, Delphine Aran, Joseph Levillain, Thierry Paul, Jean-Luc Dupouey
Summary: Fagus sylvatica L. is a competitive tree in European temperate deciduous forests, but often sporadic or absent in present-day stands where Quercus spp. are dominant. Through soil charcoal analysis in the Lorraine Plateau in France, the presence of Fagus and Quercus in mature Quercus stands was confirmed. Radiocarbon dating results indicated that historical forest management caused the replacement of Fagus by Quercus, starting from the Bronze Age.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Paula Halbig, Anne-Sophie Stelzer, Peter Baier, Josef Pennerstorfer, Horst Delb, Axel Schopf
Summary: The incidence of oak processionary moth in Central Europe has been increasing, posing severe threats to oak trees, humans, and animals. To address this issue, researchers have developed an online early warning system that provides phenological forecasts and decision support for the protection of oak trees and human health.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Jean-Baptiste Ndamiyehe Ncutirakiza, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Philippe Lejeune, Xavier Bry, Catherine Trottier, Frederic Mortier, Adeline Fayolle, Francois Muhashy Habiyaremye, Leopold Ndjele Mianda-Bungi, Gauthier Ligot
Summary: This study examines the influence of canopy structure on tropical tree growth using data collected through unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and field measurements. The results show that combining UAV and field data can improve the prediction of tree diameter increment. Diameter at breast height and crown area are complementary predictors, and crown-based competition indices significantly enhance prediction models. The calibrated model at one site can accurately predict growth at another site.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Abebe Damtew, Emiru Birhane, Christian Messier, Alain Paquette, Bart Muys
Summary: Restoring degraded dryland requires a diverse mixture of trees and shrubs. Shading and species diversity can improve seedling survival and vitality. Shaded conditions led to higher seedling survival, vitality, and chlorophyll content, while increasing species richness improved seedling vitality in non-shaded conditions.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Francois Hebert, Isabelle Delisle, Marc Tremblay, Pascal Tremblay, Jean- Francois Boucher, Yan Boucher, Daniel Lord
Summary: Regeneration failures in the closed-crown boreal forest, resulting in the creation of open lichen woodlands, can be restored through clear-cutting, scarification, and natural seeding. Clear-cutting combined with scarification promotes seedling establishment, and scarification creates suitable microsites for germination. Seedling growth in lichen woodlands is higher when logging and scarification are combined, but lower compared to feather moss stands. Afforestation through natural seeding following scarification could be a cost-effective option for restoring lichen woodlands.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bianca Wulansari Kassun, A. Maarit I. Kallio, Erik Tr Omborg, Meley Mekonen Rannestad
Summary: Mapping and analyzing forest ecosystem services in dry and mountain forests can provide valuable knowledge for sustainable forest management strategies.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Michael Premer, Eric Turnblom, Aaron Weiskittel
Summary: Managed forests serve as a natural climate change solution by sequestering carbon and storing it in harvested wood products, while also providing ecosystem services and wildlife habitat. This study focused on the stem sinuosity of juvenile coastal Douglas-fir and found that genetic improvement, silviculture practices, and local growing conditions can impact stem sinuosity. Factors such as tree spacing, vegetation control, and climate variables also affect the severity of stem sinuosity.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Bronwyn Lira Dyson, Rhea Herpel, Peter Karasch, Jorg Mueller, Dominik Thom, Claus Baessler
Summary: The study aimed to assess the effects of different forest management strategies, dead wood types, and microclimates on Fomes fomentarius. The results showed that the occupancy of Fomes fomentarius was lower in control stands, while the percent cover occupied on snags under a closed canopy was higher. Increasing the number of snags and maintaining dense forest canopies could enhance the presence of Fomes fomentarius as well as provide important microhabitats for various arthropods.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Di Liu, Chaofan Zhou, Xiao He, Xiangdong Lei, Huiru Zhang, Xianzhao Liu
Summary: Canopy structure plays a significant role in the distribution and growth of saplings. Traditional canopy metrics are inadequate in irregular stands. The innovative framework of canopy triangular units provides a comprehensive understanding of the canopy's three-dimensional attributes. Through this framework, we can analyze the differences in various triangular unit types and the spatial dispersion of saplings.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Amalia Valeria Ibanez Moro, Fabian Borghetti, Leonardo Galetto, Juan M. Cellini, Sandra J. Bravo
Summary: This study evaluated the size and persistence of soil seed banks (SSB) of six native woody species in dry subtropical forests of the western Argentine Chaco region. The results showed that SSB size was influenced by different sites and sampling years, and forest disturbances had varying effects on SSB.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)
Article
Forestry
Stephanie Landry, Marc-Andre Villard, Gaetan Pelletier, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: In many regions of the world, excessive browsing by ungulates has reached unsustainable levels, threatening biodiversity and forest regeneration. Moose, as ecological engineers, have severe impacts on forest structure and composition through overbrowsing. The distribution of forage and cover patches affects moose browsing pressure, and this relationship has been explored in conifer-dominated stands but not in hardwood-dominated landscapes.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2024)