Micrometeorogical measurements to assess fire fuel dryness (formally paper 11.7)

With recent advances in electronics, it is now possible to monitor high frequency temperature data and estimate sensible heat flux density in remote locations using the surface renewal method. In combination with measurements or estimates of net radiation and soil heat flux density (i.e., available energy), this technology offers the possibility to obtain spatial estimates latent heat flux density. The ratio of the latent heat flux density to available energy decreases as a surface becomes drier, so it can be used to assess surface dryness. In this paper, the surface renewal method and eddy covariance methods are used to test the fuel dryness index for various vegetated surfaces. One advantage of the method is that the dryness index integrates contributions of all combustion materials including aerial, surface and ground fuel. Data were collected in Italy and California over Mediterranean shrub vegetation and savanna grassland. The ultimate goal of this research is to develop an accurate fuel dryness index that will improve assessment of fire risk, thereby helping fire managers in deploying fire fighting crews, which has the potential benefit of reducing losses of life and material due to wildfires.