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Upslope fire and eruptive fires

Informally Refereed
Download (PDF 497 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/63224.pdf

Abstract

This work deals with a fire spreading upslope under either no-wind conditions or weak wind velocities. The surface fire propagation model developed at the University of Corsica is used; this model takes into account convective and radiative effects. The model is based on the coupling of the properties of the spreading fire with other conditions (wind, topography) and consists of a feedback effect caused by the flow induced by the fire in the presence of a positive slope. The expression of this induced wind, coupled to the propagation model gives an algebraic relationship for the rate of spread (ROS) which depends on the terrain slope angle. For operational matters, the main goal consists in obtaining very simple conditions necessary to eruption triggering. A simplification of the ROS relationship leads to a triggering condition which only depends on fuel characteristics and the threshold slope angle.

Parent Publication

Citation

Chatelon, F. J.; Balbi, J. H.; Rossi, J. L.; Marcelli, T. 2020. Upslope fire and eruptive fires. In: Hood, Sharon M.; Drury, Stacy; Steelman, Toddi; Steffens, Ron, [eds.]. Proceedings of the Fire Continuum-Preparing for the future of wildland fire; 2018 May 21-24; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-78. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 248-251.