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Microclimatic and Topographic Controls of Fire Radiative Energy in Southeastern Ohio

Suciu, Loredana G.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1251136822

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Arts (MA), Ohio University, Geography (Arts and Sciences).
This study explores the environmental control of two key elements of water balance on fire behavior at two sites in southeastern Ohio, Arch Rock and Tar Hollow. The two elements of water balance are potential evapotranspiration (PET) and actual evapotranspiration (AET). Fire behavior is expressed in this study as fire radiative energy (FRE), which is estimated from time-sequence fire radiative power by remote sensing of infrared radiation during fires. Previous studies have shown that both fuel moisture and fuel load are primary driving forces of fire behavior at a coarse scale. Therefore, in this study, PET is used to suggest fuel moisture in spring and AET is used as a surrogate for productivity during the growing season in order to explain FRE at a fine scale. Results show that a water balance approach helped to explain FRE using categorical AET and PET. At the pixel level, the water balance approach was less successful because the variables did not relate reasonably with space and because of other fine-scale local effects (hydrology, decomposition rates) that were not captured by PET and AET. Aspect strongly influences solar radiation and PET. Thus, aspect was used additionally to assess its indirect effects on FRE. Overall, FRE responded well to aspect at both study sites.
James M. Dyer, PhD (Advisor)
82 p.
Ecology; Environmental Science; Geography; Remote Sensing
prescribed-fires; time-sequence infrared imagery; fire radiative energy; water balance; microclimate; topography

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Suciu, L. G. (2009). Microclimatic and Topographic Controls of Fire Radiative Energy in Southeastern Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1251136822

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Suciu, Loredana. Microclimatic and Topographic Controls of Fire Radiative Energy in Southeastern Ohio. 2009. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1251136822.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Suciu, Loredana. "Microclimatic and Topographic Controls of Fire Radiative Energy in Southeastern Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1251136822

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1251136822
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.