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Canopy fuel characteristics and potential crown fire behavior in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) forests

Caractéristiques des combustibles de la canopée et comportement du potentiel de feu des couronnes de forêts de Pin d’Alep (Pinus halepensis Mill.)

Annals of Forest Science volume 64, pages 287–299 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Canopy fuel characteristics that influence the initiation and spread of crown fires were measured in representative Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) stands in Greece. Vertical distribution profiles of canopy fuel load, canopy base height and canopy bulk density are presented. Aleppo pine canopy fuels are characterized by low canopy base height (3.0–6.5 m), while available canopy fuel load (0.96–1.80 kg/m2) and canopy bulk density (0.09–0.22 kg/m3) values are similar to other conifers worldwide. Crown fire behavior (probability of crown fire initiation, crown fire type, rate of spread, fireline intensity and flame length) in Aleppo pine stands with various understory fuel types was simulated with the most updated crown fire models. The probability of crown fire initiation was high even under moderate burning conditions, mainly due to the low canopy base height and the heavy surface fuel load. Passive crown fires resulted mostly in uneven aged stands, while even aged stands gave high intensity active crown fires. Assessment of canopy fuel characteristics and potential crown fire behavior can be useful in fuel management and fire suppression planning.

Résumé

Les caractéristiques des combustibles qui influencent le démarrage et la propagation des feux de couronnes ont été mesurées dans des peuplements représentatifs de Pinus halepensis Mill. en Grèce. Des profils verticaux de la charge en combustible de la canopée, la hauteur de la base de la canopée et la densité volumique de la canopée sont présentés. La charge combustible de la canopée est caractérisée par une faible hauteur de la base de la canopée (3,0–6,5 m), tandis que la charge en combustible disponible (0,96–1,80 kg/m2) et la densité volumique de la canopée (0,09–0,22 kg/m3) sont similaires à celles des autres conifères dans le monde. Le comportement du feu de couronne (probabilité de démarrage du feu dans les couronnes, type de feu de couronne, taux de propagation, intensité de la ligne de feu et longueur des flammes) dans les peuplements de Pinus halepensis avec différents types de combustibles de sous-bois a été simulé avec le maximum de modèles actuels de feux de couronnes. La probabilité de démarrage de feu de couronne était forte même en conditions de faible embrasement, principalement en relation avec la faible hauteur de la base des couronnes et la forte charge en combustible au sol. Des feux passifs de couronnes se produisent principalement dans les peuplements inéquiennes tandis que les peuplements équiennes ont présenté de fortes intensités de feux actifs de couronnes. L’évaluation des caractéristiques des combustibles de la canopée et le comportement du potentiel de feu peuvent être très utiles pour la gestion des combustibles et la planification de la lutte contre les feux.

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  1. Laboratory of Forest Protection, School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, PO Box 228, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Ioannis D. Mitsopoulos & Alexandras P. Dimitrakopoulos

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  1. Ioannis D. Mitsopoulos
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Mitsopoulos, I.D., Dimitrakopoulos, A.P. Canopy fuel characteristics and potential crown fire behavior in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) forests. Ann. For. Sci. 64, 287–299 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2007006

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Annals of Forest Science

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