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- Title
Mapping the probability of large fire occurrence in northern Arizona, USA.
- Authors
Dickson, Brett G.; Prather, John W.; Yaguang Xu; Hampton, Haydee M.; Aumack, Ethan N.; Sisk, Thomas D.
- Abstract
In the southwestern U.S., wildland fire frequency and area burned have steadily increased in recent decades, a pattern attributable to multiple ignition sources. To examine contributing landscape factors and patterns related to the occurrence of large (⩾20 ha in extent) fires in the forested region of northern Arizona, we assembled a database of lightning- and human-caused fires for the period 1 April to 30 September, 1986-2000. At the landscape scale, we used a weights-of-evidence approach to model and map the probability of occurrence based on all fire types (n = 203), and lightning-caused fires alone (n = 136). In total, large fires burned 101,571 ha on our study area. Fires due to lightning were more frequent and extensive than those caused by humans, although human-caused fires burned large areas during the period of our analysis. For all fires, probability of occurrence was greatest in areas of high topographic roughness and lower road density. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)-dominated forest vegetation and mean annual precipitation were less important predictors. Our modeling results indicate that seasonal large fire events are a consequence of non-random patterns of occurrence, and that patterns generated by these events may affect the regional fire regime more extensively than previously thought. Identifying the factors that influence large fires will improve our ability to target resource protection efforts and manage fire risk at the landscape scale.
- Subjects
ARIZONA; FORESTS &; forestry; WILDFIRES; LANDSCAPES; PONDEROSA pine; FOREST fires; PINE; FOREST fire management; FOREST management
- Publication
Landscape Ecology, 2006, Vol 21, Issue 5, p747
- ISSN
0921-2973
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s10980-005-5475-x