Title
A Synoptic Climatology for Forest-Fires in the NE US and Future Implications From GCM Simulations
Campus Units
Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Agronomy, Aerospace Engineering, Ames Laboratory
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
1994
Journal or Book Title
International Journal of Wildland Fire
Volume
4
Issue
4
First Page
217
Last Page
224
DOI
10.1071/WF9940217
Abstract
We studied surface-pressure patterns corresponding to reduced precipitation, high evaporation potential, and enhanced forest-fire danger for West Virginia, which experienced extensive forest-fire damage in November 1987. From five years of daily weather maps we identified eight weather patterns that describe distinctive flow situations throughout the year. Map patterns labeled extended-high, back-of-high, and pre-high were the most frequently occurring patterns that accompany forest fires in West Virginia and the nearby four-stare region. Of these, back-of-high accounted for a disproportionately large amount of fire-related damage. Examination of evaporation acid precipitation data showed that these three patterns and high-to-the-south patterns ail led to drying conditions and all other patterns led to moistening conditions. Surface-pressure fields generated by the Canadian Climate Centre global circulation model for simulations of the present (1xCO2) climate and 2xCO2 climate were studied to determine whether forest-fire potential would change under increased atmospheric CO2. The analysis showed a tendency for increased frequency of drying in the NE US, but the results were not statistically significant.
Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Takle, Eugene S.; Bramer, Daniel J.; Heilman, Warren E.; and Thompson,, Metinka R., "A Synoptic Climatology for Forest-Fires in the NE US and Future Implications From GCM Simulations" (1994). Geological and Atmospheric Sciences Publications. 196.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ge_at_pubs/196
Comments
This article is published as Takle, Eugene S., Daniel J. Bramer, Warren E. Heilman, and Metinka R. Thompson. "A synoptic climatology for forest-fires in the NE US and future implications from GCM simulations." International Journal of Wildland Fire 4, no. 4 (1994): 217-224. DOI:10.1071/WF9940217. Posted with permission.