A fuel moisture and microclimate model for Glacier National Park
Mason DL and Kessell SR. 1975. A fuel moisture and microclimate model for Glacier National Park. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America. 56(2):50
Attempts to model and predict fire behavior in natural systems, using either habitat-types or environmental gradient modeling methods, are limited by the precision of fuel moisture and microclimate parameters, as these are usually extrapolated from low-elevation base weather stations to remote wilderness sites. We have refined this method in Glacier National Park by: (1) establishing recording temperature, humidity, and fuel moisture equipment in a mid- and high-elevation station ; (2) placing 1, 10 and 100 hour time lag fuel moisture sticks in an additional 18 stations (with various combinations of elevation, topography,aspect and vegetative cover); and (3) designing and testing an inexpensive recording fuel moisture instrument. Field and analytical methodology, initial results, and the design of predictive regression equations are discussed.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Mason, Douglas; Kessell, Stephen
- Units
- GLAC
- Keywords
- Fire Behavior, Fuel Moisture, Gradients, Management, Microenvironment, Modeling