Fuel modeling and fire behaviour simulation of maquis-type vegetation in Crete, Greece
1994
Gagary, P.
As a contribution to the successful confrontation of the severe wildland fire problem in the Mediterranean Region, this study was focused on predicting the potential wildland fire behavior of the maquis-type vegetation in Crete, Greece. Extensive sampling of representative maquis fuel complexes was conducted all over Crete and their fuel properties (load by size class, surface to volume ratio, depth, density, moisture content) were measured in the field and in the laboratory, in order to create fuel models. Hierarchical statistical analysis was applied in order to determine fuel models with similar properties. Thus, out of nineteen fuel models, five representative models were selected, covering the wide range of the measured fuel parameter values. Consequently, potential fire behavior was predicted by using the BEHAVE fire simulation program for every representative fuel model. In conclusion, potential wildland fire behavior of the maquis formations of Crete was realistically simulated and predicted with actual fuel data, offering thus a useful decision-aiding tool to fire managers for designing fire prevention and suppression activities, and prescribed burning operations.
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This bibliographic record has been provided by Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari