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Abstract
Foliar moisture content (FMC) is a primary factor in the canopy ignition process as surface fire transitions to crown fire. In combination with measured stand data and assumed environmental conditions, reasonable estimates of foliar moisture content are necessary to determine and justify silvicultural targets for canopy fuels management strategies. FMC values reported in research publications are best used for this purpose. This paper summarizes the results of 11 studies on the FMC values and trends for 16 North American conifers. FMC values ranged from 73 to 480 percent but varied by species, foliage age, and season. FMC values presented here and the references associated with them will be helpful to managers engaging in canopy fuels planning with the use of popular fire behavior and fuels management software (e.g. NEXUS, Fuels Management Analyst, and the Forest Vegetation Simulator’s Fire and Fuels Extension).
Parent Publication
Citation
Keyes, Christopher R. 2006. Foliar Moisture Contents of North American Conifers. In: Andrews, Patricia L.; Butler, Bret W., comps. 2006. Fuels Management-How to Measure Success: Conference Proceedings. 28-30 March 2006; Portland, OR. Proceedings RMRS-P-41. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 395-399
