This paper presents a conceptual framework for ranking the crown fire potential of wildland fuelbeds with forest canopies. This approach extends the work by Van Wagner and Rothermel, and introduces several new physical concepts to the modeling of crown fire behaviour derived from the reformulated Rothermel surface fire modeling concepts proposed by Sandberg et al. (this issue). This framework forms the basis for calculating the crown fire potentials of Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) fuelbeds (Ottmar et al., this issue). Two new crown fire potentials are proposed (i) the torching potential (TP) and (ii) the active crown potential (AP). A systematic comparison of TP and AP against field observations and Crown Fire Initiation and Spread (CFIS) model outputs produced encouraging results, suggesting that the FCCS framework might be a useful tool for fire managers to consider when ranking the potential for crown fires or evaluating the relative behaviour of crown fires in forest canopies.Résumé : Cet article présente un cadre conceptuel pour classer le potentiel de feu de cimes des couches de combustibles en milieu naturel où il y a des canopées forestières. Cette approche pousse plus loin les travaux de Van Wagner et de Rothermel et introduit plusieurs concepts physiques nouveaux dans la modélisation du comportement des feux de cimes dérivés des concepts reformulés de Rothermel pour la modélisation des feux de surface proposés par Sandburg et al. (ce numéro). Ce cadre forme la base pour calculer les potentiels de feu de cimes des couches de combustibles du système de classification des caractéristiques des combustibles (SCCC) (Ottmar et al., ce numéro). Deux nouvelles possibilités de feux de cimes sont proposées : (i) la possibilité de flambée en chandelle et (ii) la possibilité de feu de cime dépendant. Une comparaison systématique de ces deux types de feux de cimes avec des observations sur le terrain et les prévisions du modèle de l'É cole canadienne d'enquêtes sur les incendies a donné des résultats encourageants. Ces résultats indiquent que le cadre du SCCC pourrait s'avérer un outil utile que les responsables de la gestion des incendies devraient considérer pour classer le potentiel de feu de cimes ou pour évaluer le comportement relatif des feux de cimes dans les canopées forestières.[Traduit par la Rédaction]
This paper evaluates the conceptual crown fire potential equations developed by Schaaf et al against observations and modelling results in Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.) stands in Greece. The equations, integrated into the Fuel Characteristic Classification System (FCCS) in the United States, are currently used to rank the potential for passive or active crowning across a diverse set of wildland fuelbeds. The framework is based on an extension of the work by Van Wagner and Rothermel but introduces several new physical concepts to the modelling of crown fire behaviour, including the reformulated Rothermel surface fire modelling concepts proposed by Sandberg et al. A sensitivity analysis comparing the FCCS Torching Potential (TP) and Active Crown Fire Potential (AP) against field observations and CFIS modelling outputs has produced encouraging results, suggesting that the FCCS crown fire potentials might be a useful tool for fire managers in the Mediterranean region to consider when evaluating the relative behaviour of crown fires in vegetated canopies.
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