Effects of weather factors on fuel moisture contents of forestland in Chuncheon, South Korea

Fuel moisture contents in the forest floor are one of important factors for forest fire spread due to their role as a possible fire ignition and are closely related to changes in weather factors. In the present study, we analyzed changes in forest fuel moisture content for two tree species (Pinus densiflora and Quercus dentata) associated with two different weather measurement data (in-situ measurement within the forest and observation at the weather station) during three consecutive years of monitoring including the Korean forest fire danger seasons (spring and fall). Results showed that the weather data from in-situ measurement within the forest and the CWS (Chuncheon Weather Station) had different patterns in that average temperature and max temperature tended to be higher in the forest, while min temperature had lower in the forest. These different patterns in weather factors affected the dead forest fuel moisture content thereby causing differences in the forest fuel moisture content among species. Results also revealed significant relation between precipitation and forest fuel moisture content indicating forest fuel moisture content decreases significantly after precipitation events during both seasons. The present study suggests that weather data within the forest which can reflect regional weather characteristics must be acquired to more accurately determine the forest fuel moisture content. Especially in Korea where most of the land consists mainly mountainous forestland. Hence, it is necessary to conduct future research which comprises comparative analysis of various leaf types based on dynamic changes of in-situ weather factors within the forest and monitor precise moisture content changes by leaf type after precipitation in order to ensure the accuracy of forest fire prediction systems during the forest fire danger season.