Angeler, David
- University of Castilla-La Mancha
Abstract
Landscape structure may affect fire propagation and fire size. Propagation may be favoured in landscapes that are homogeneous and hindered at places of greater heterogeneity, and where discontinuities occur. We tested whether there is continuity in landscape structure across the edges of 110 fires in the Sierra de Gredos (central Spain). We used Landsat Multispectral Scanner images to map and assess the land-cover composition and other features of fires. Landscape diversity along the pixel row of the fire edge and of the two adjacent ones (burned and unburned) was compared for all fires. Additionally, changes in landscape properties and fuel hazard perpendicular to the fire edge evaluated the degree of discontinuity from inside the burn towards the outside across the edge. Fire size was related to landscape properties and weather conditions using generalized linear regression models. Diversity increased from inside the burn towards the edge and outside the burn. Discontinuity in land-cover types and fuel hazard increased from the inside towards the outside. Modelling confirmed that fire size was in part related to landscape characteristics of the burned area and of the edges of the fire perimeter. We conclude that landscape structure was important in determining fire size in this area.
Keywords
fuel discontinuity; fuel diversity; GLM; global change; land-use/land-cover change; topographic complexity
Published in
International Journal of Wildland Fire
2009, volume: 18, number: 5, pages: 575–583
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Landscape Architecture
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/WF08030
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/27791