Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview

Wildfire causes environmental, economic, and human problems or losses. This study reviewed wildfires induced by lightning strikes. This review focuses on the investigations of lightning mechanisms in the laboratory. Also, the paper aims to discuss some of the modeling studies on lightning-induced wi...

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Main Authors: Yang Song, Cangsu Xu, Xiaolu Li, Francis Oppong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Fire
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/3/79
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author Yang Song
Cangsu Xu
Xiaolu Li
Francis Oppong
author_facet Yang Song
Cangsu Xu
Xiaolu Li
Francis Oppong
author_sort Yang Song
collection DOAJ
description Wildfire causes environmental, economic, and human problems or losses. This study reviewed wildfires induced by lightning strikes. This review focuses on the investigations of lightning mechanisms in the laboratory. Also, the paper aims to discuss some of the modeling studies on lightning-induced wildfires at different geographical locations using satellite-recorded lightning data and different statistical analyses. This review established that irrespective of the different models used to predict lightning wildfires, there is still a lack of understanding of the lightning-strike ignition mechanism; few experiments have been modeled to establish the dynamics of lightning-strike ignition. Therefore, further research needs to be carried out in this area to understand lightning ignition. It was ascertained from the various statistical modeling that lightning-induced wildfires are exacerbated by the abundant availability of fuel with a lower moisture content and high lightning efficiency. Moreover, because of changes in the climate and weather conditions, i.e., harsh weather and climate conditions due to anthropogenic activities, lightning-induced ignition wildfires have increased over the years, and they are expected to increase in the future if the climate and weather conditions continue to aggravate. Although various modeling studies have identified that lightning-induced wildfires have increased recently, no preventive measures have been conclusively proposed to reduce lightning-caused wildfires. Hence, this aspect of research has to be given critical attention. This review presents information that gives a profound understanding of lightning-induced wildfires, especially factors that influence lightning wildfires, and the state-of-the-art research that has been completed to understand lightning-induced wildfires.
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spelling doaj.art-53aa0a169a2840739c5a9b76ee8d08052024-03-27T13:38:11ZengMDPI AGFire2571-62552024-03-01737910.3390/fire7030079Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An OverviewYang Song0Cangsu Xu1Xiaolu Li2Francis Oppong3Zhejiang Tongji Vocational College of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 311231, ChinaSchool of New Energy and Intelligent Networked Automobile, University of Sanya, Sanya 572022, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaCollege of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou 310018, ChinaWildfire causes environmental, economic, and human problems or losses. This study reviewed wildfires induced by lightning strikes. This review focuses on the investigations of lightning mechanisms in the laboratory. Also, the paper aims to discuss some of the modeling studies on lightning-induced wildfires at different geographical locations using satellite-recorded lightning data and different statistical analyses. This review established that irrespective of the different models used to predict lightning wildfires, there is still a lack of understanding of the lightning-strike ignition mechanism; few experiments have been modeled to establish the dynamics of lightning-strike ignition. Therefore, further research needs to be carried out in this area to understand lightning ignition. It was ascertained from the various statistical modeling that lightning-induced wildfires are exacerbated by the abundant availability of fuel with a lower moisture content and high lightning efficiency. Moreover, because of changes in the climate and weather conditions, i.e., harsh weather and climate conditions due to anthropogenic activities, lightning-induced ignition wildfires have increased over the years, and they are expected to increase in the future if the climate and weather conditions continue to aggravate. Although various modeling studies have identified that lightning-induced wildfires have increased recently, no preventive measures have been conclusively proposed to reduce lightning-caused wildfires. Hence, this aspect of research has to be given critical attention. This review presents information that gives a profound understanding of lightning-induced wildfires, especially factors that influence lightning wildfires, and the state-of-the-art research that has been completed to understand lightning-induced wildfires.https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/3/79lightning strikeignitionwildfiresclimate and weatherfuel conditiontopography
spellingShingle Yang Song
Cangsu Xu
Xiaolu Li
Francis Oppong
Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview
Fire
lightning strike
ignition
wildfires
climate and weather
fuel condition
topography
title Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview
title_full Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview
title_fullStr Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview
title_full_unstemmed Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview
title_short Lightning-Induced Wildfires: An Overview
title_sort lightning induced wildfires an overview
topic lightning strike
ignition
wildfires
climate and weather
fuel condition
topography
url https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/7/3/79
work_keys_str_mv AT yangsong lightninginducedwildfiresanoverview
AT cangsuxu lightninginducedwildfiresanoverview
AT xiaoluli lightninginducedwildfiresanoverview
AT francisoppong lightninginducedwildfiresanoverview