Tundra fire regimes in the Noatak River watershed, Alaska : 1956-83
Racine CH, Dennis JG, Patterson WA. 1985. Tundra fire regimes in the Noatak River watershed, Alaska : 1956-83. Arctic. 38(3):194-200
The location, cause, frequency, size, and seasonal timing of tundra fires in the Noatak River watershed were determined from U.S. Bureau of Land Management fire records for 1956-1983 and from LANDSAT satellite imagery for 1972-1981. Seventy-nine fires were detected during this 27-year period. Most of these occurred on the valley floor below 450 m in close proximity to the Noatak River or its tributaries. Implications of seasonal timing and comparisons of the fire regimes in the Noatak with other areas of northern Alaska are discussed. It is preliminarily concluded that there is on average only a one- to three-day period each year when conditions for tundra fire ignitions occur. This suggests that the combination of lightning activity following drying periods of significant length to produce burnable fuels occurs rarely. Weather analysis indicated that conditions suitable for burning are associated only with winds from the east or northeast, clear skies, low humidity, and warm weather. Adjacent to/nearby KOBUK. Research for this journal article was supported by the U.S. Man and the Biosphere program.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Racine, Charles; Dennis, John; Patterson, William
- Units
- CAKR , KOVA , NOAT
- Keywords
- Aniuk Lowlands, Cape Krusenstern National Monument, FIRE, Fire History, Igichuk Hills, Kaluktavik River, Kobuk Valley National Park, Kugururok River, Mission Lowlands, Noatak National Preserve, Noatak River, Satellite imaging, Tundra, Wildfires