RECORD
Consumption of Sound and rotten coarse woody debri from a Northern Idaho Mixed Conifer Forest
- Title:
- Consumption of Sound and rotten coarse woody debri from a Northern Idaho Mixed Conifer Forest
- Creator:
- Hyde, Joshua C.
- Date Created:
- 2010-10
- Description:
- Coarse woody debris in various states of decay is found in abundance in numerous forested ecosystems, serves a variety of ecosystem functions, and has the potential to affect air quality as it combusts. However, our understanding of the quantities of this debris consumed in forest fires is poor, especially when addressing debris in various states of decomposition; a condition which eventually affects all debris. In this study we examine the effect of decay on consumption and the wood properties of coarse woody debris using three numeric decay classification systems for logs between 7 and 23 cm in diameter and moisture contents between 6 and 13%. Results indicate that coarse woody debris in class four, the most advanced decay class, are likely to consume to a greater degree than logs in classes one through three. This supports the current convention of grouping all the classes into two broad categories, sound and rotten, in semi-empirical models such as Consume and the First Order Fire Effects Model. Intermediate classes showed high variation in consumption; this was in part due to surface properties which impact the decay classification and do not reflect the condition of the entire log. For this reason we suggest the use of physical properties to predict consumption of these fuels. In examining debris properties, wood density, lignin content, and volumetric heat content, were the most highly correlated with consumption. This study should be repeated in areas with different decomposition and combustion dynamics, such as that found in the southeastern United States.
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Subjects:
- UIEF woody debris forest litter air quality fire effects decay classification fire consumption forest operations
- UIEF Unit:
- East Hatter Creek
- Location:
- UIEF; East Hatter Creek
- Latitude:
- 46.840526
- Longitude:
- -116.780027
- Department:
- Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences
- Type:
- Text
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- "Consumption of Sound and rotten coarse woody debri from a Northern Idaho Mixed Conifer Forest", UIEF Research Exchange, University of Idaho Library Digital Collections, https://www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/uief/items/uief_0224.html
Rights
- Rights:
- In copyright, educational use permitted.
- Standardized Rights:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/