Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2017-318
https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-2017-318
09 Oct 2017
 | 09 Oct 2017
Status: this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors.

Assessment of Forest Fire Rating Systems in Typical Mediterranean Forest, Crete, Greece

Mohamed Elhag and Slivena Boteva

Abstract. The Fire Weather Index (FWI) module was tested under the Mediterranean- type conditions of Crete (Greece) for the two fire seasons 2008–2009. High correlations were found between the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) and the Duff Moisture Code (DMC. The Drought Code (DC) was insignificantly correlated with the soil moisture content. No significant correlation was found between the area burned by wildfires and any component of the FWI system during the studied period, unlike fire occurrence with which most of the components were highly correlated. Meanwhile, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) of the American Forest Fire Danger Rating System (NFFDRS) was also examined under the same conditions. It provided a useful means of monitoring general wetting and drying cycles, but is inadequate for indicating daily fire danger throughout the fire season in our region. Weak correlations between the KBDI- the fire occurrence and the area burned were found for the two fire seasons studied-2008–2009. Correlations between the KBDI and litter, duff and soil did not give statistically sound results. On the contrary, the KBDI seemed to predict with high accuracy the moisture content of three annual plants (Piplatherum miliaceum, Parietaria diffusa, Avena sterillis) with a shallow rooting system of Pinus halepensis forest understory in the region. This indicated that the index was adequate, to a certain extent, to represent the upper soil layers' water status, while it is unsuitable to predict needles moisture content of Pinus halepensis, which has a deep rooting system.

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
Mohamed Elhag and Slivena Boteva

Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement

Interactive discussion

Status: closed
Status: closed
AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment
Printer-friendly Version - Printer-friendly version Supplement - Supplement
Mohamed Elhag and Slivena Boteva
Mohamed Elhag and Slivena Boteva

Viewed

Total article views: 1,810 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total BibTeX EndNote
898 850 62 1,810 68 71
  • HTML: 898
  • PDF: 850
  • XML: 62
  • Total: 1,810
  • BibTeX: 68
  • EndNote: 71
Views and downloads (calculated since 09 Oct 2017)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 09 Oct 2017)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 1,557 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 1,547 with geography defined and 10 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 

Discussed

Latest update: 06 Oct 2024
Download

This preprint has been withdrawn.

Short summary
The objective of this study is to test and evaluate the following FFDRS, to propose possible modifications that would better adapt these systems to the Mediterranean conditions. The implemented forest fire danger rating systems are the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS), and Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) of the American National Forest Fire Danger Rating System (NFFDRS).
Altmetrics