Calibration of FARSITE simulator in northern Iranian forests
Wildfire simulators based on empirical or physical models need to be locally calibrated and validated when used under conditions that differ from those where the simulators were originally developed. This study aims to calibrate the FARSITE fire spread model considering a set of recent wildfires tha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences |
| Online Access: | http://www.nat-hazards-earth-syst-sci.net/15/443/2015/nhess-15-443-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | Wildfire simulators based on empirical or physical models need to be locally
calibrated and validated when used under conditions that differ from those
where the simulators were originally developed. This study aims to calibrate
the FARSITE fire spread model considering a set of recent wildfires that occurred in
northern Iranian forests. Site-specific fuel models in the study areas were
selected by sampling the main natural vegetation type complexes and
assigning standard fuel models. Overall, simulated fires presented reliable
outputs that accurately replicated the observed fire perimeters and
behavior. Standard fuel models of Scott and Burgan (2005) afforded better
accuracy in the simulated fire perimeters than the standard fuel models of
Anderson (1982). The best match between observed and modeled burned areas
was observed on herbaceous fuel models. Fire modeling showed a high
potential for estimating spatial variability in fire spread and behavior in
the study areas. This work represents a first step in the application of
fire spread modeling in northern Iran for wildfire risk monitoring and
management. |
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| ISSN: | 1561-8633 1684-9981 |