5th Symposium on Fire and Forest Meteorology
2nd International Wildland Fire Ecology and Fire Management Congress

J11.2

Drought Indexes as Indicators of Fire Activity

Patricia L. Andrews, USDA Forest Service Research, Missoula, MT

Drought and fire danger rating indexes were evaluated in terms of their relationship to fire activity. The analysis was done for 15 locations throughout the U.S. Indexes include U.S. National Fire Danger Rating Energy Release Component for fuel model G (ERCg), 1000-h moisture, and Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI); the Canadian Drought Code (DC), Duff Moisture Code (DMC), and Buildup Index (BUI); Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), Crop Moisture Index (CMI), z-index, Evapotranspiration (ET), and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET). Indexes and their influencing factors are described. Analysis and comparisons were made on the basis of logistic regression and percentile analysis using a modified version of the FireFamily Plus program. .

Joint Session 11, Fire and Drought Indices
Wednesday, 19 November 2003, 1:30 PM-4:30 PM

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