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The Effect of Wind Speed on Wildfires

The Effect of Wind Speed on Wildfires. Group 4 Alex Dickey Sam Heck Tess Rinaldo Michael Neuder. Testable Question. How does wind speed affect the rate at which fire travels?. Source: http ://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/04.23.NOAA_.wildfirel.jpg.

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The Effect of Wind Speed on Wildfires

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  1. The Effect of Wind Speed on Wildfires Group 4 Alex Dickey Sam Heck Tess Rinaldo Michael Neuder

  2. Testable Question How does wind speed affect the rate at which fire travels? Source: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/04.23.NOAA_.wildfirel.jpg

  3. Context: Colorado Wildfires • Last Chance Fire: Burned over 45k acres • High Park Fire: Burned over 87,250 acres • Flagstaff Fire: Burned 2,400 Households • Waldo Canyon: 32,000 evacuated • Little Sand Fire: 22,400 acres burned  • Black Forest Fire: 14,280 acres burned

  4. Context: Effects of Wildfires • These six fires occurred in the past 3 years • Causing extreme environmental damage • Mud slides • Destruction of wildlife habitat • Population displacement • Loss of life • Property damage • Affected water quality • Waldo Canyon: Lost reservoir due to sedimentation

  5. Context: Prevention • This experiment will lead to more effective prevention methods for wildfires • Predict rate of fire spreading • Based on terrain and weather • Increased response efficiency • Notify responders faster • Better prediction of high risk areas • Based on terrain and weather data from previous fires • More effective response methods • Applying fire retardant to predicted area

  6. Hypothesis • If we increase the wind speed acting upon a fire at different gradients, then the fire will spread fastest with high wind speeds at an uphill slope because wind will supply oxygen to the fire and heat rises.

  7. Proposed Investigation • We will build upon a study conducted by the USDA Forest Service • Studied effects of terrain slope on fire spread • We will be using an identical setup with additions to test for wind speed

  8. Apparatus • 1 x 3 meter adjustable tray • Shredded aspen bark • Electric coil beneath bark for ignition • Large fan with adjustable speeds • Anemometer

  9. Apparatus

  10. Procedure • Five Gradients • -45, -25, 0, 25, 45 degrees • Four wind speeds • 0, 15, 30, 60 Kilometers per hour • Three trial per combination of windspeed and gradient • Speed measured in seconds

  11. Sample Data Table

  12. Bibliography • Auburn University. (2005, March 8). Weather elements that affect fire behavior. Retrieved from PFMT Fire website: https://fp.auburn.edu/fire/weather_elements.htm  • Bonsor, K. (2001, May 29). How wildfires work. Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/wildfire2.htm  • DHSEM. (2013, July 8). Colorado Wildfire Report: July 8. Retrieved from Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website: http://dhsem.state.co.us/news/2013-07-08/colorado-wildfire-report-july-8  • Stoner, N. (2012, September 12). Wildfires impact water resources in Colorado. Retrieved from http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/09/wildfires-impact-water-resources-in-colorado/ • U.S. USDA Forest Service. (2007). Influence of slope on fire spread rate (Research Report No. RMRS-P-46CD) (B. W. Butler, W. R. Anderson, & E. A. Catchpole, Authors). Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_p046/ rmrs_p046_075_082.pdf

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