Estimation of Fire Danger in Hawai'i Using Limited Weather Data and Simulation

Author:

Weise, David R., Stephens, Scott L., Fujioka, Francis M., Moody, Tadashi J., Benoit, John

Title:

Estimation of Fire Danger in Hawai'i Using Limited Weather Data and Simulation

Periodical:

Pacific Science

Year:

2010

Volume:

64

Pages:

199-220

Subject:

Fire risk assessment Wildfires Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) Palila Mamane-naio forest

Summary:

This document describes the part that fire played in the evolution of the island biota in Hawaii. It tells of how large fires could threaten the Kipuka Kalawamauna Endangered Plant Area and a portion a designated critical habitat for the endangered forest bird, palila, (Loxioides bailleui). This bird lives exclusively in the mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) and naio (Myoporum sandwicense forest of Mauna Kea that is within a 42,600 acre area that is managed by the U.S. Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA). Due to limited weather data that was available for the area, the U.S. Army contracted with the Forest Service to analyze weather, fuel, and fire conditions at the PTA in an effort to develop fire danger indices that would be used to regulate training activities. This paper describes the various analyses that were performed in an effort to develop a National Fire Danger Rating System (NFDRS) index values as a result of the paucity of data that was in existence in 1998. It also describes the effects of weather data type on simulated fire risk.

Label:

Weather & Climate

URL:

http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/handle/10125/23102/vol64n2-199-220.pdf?sequence=1

Collection:

Periodicals