Time to Ignition - Temperature - Moisture Relationship for Branches of Three Western Conifers

Authors

Gavriil Xanthopoulos
Ronald H. Wakimoto

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Canadian Journal of Forest Research

Publication Date

1993

Issue

2

Volume

23

First Page

253

Last Page

258

Abstract

The effect of convection column air temperature and live needle moisture content on the flammability of tree branches was verified and quantified by exposing sample branches of three conifer species (Pinus ponderosa, P. contorta and Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca) to a hot-air convection column in the laboratory, at temperatures from 400 to 640C, and measuring time to ignition. The experiment was repeated monthly over the course of a year using branches collected early in the morning from the crown base of trees in 2 areas near Missoula, Montana, thus taking advantage of the natural fluctuation of live needle moisture content. Three multiple regression equations for the prediction of time to ignition with air temperature and needle moisture as the independent variables were developed.

Comments

Originally published by the National Research Council - Canada.
Note: This article appeared in the Canadian Journal of Forest Research.

Recommended Citation

Xanthopoulos, G. and Wakimoto, R. (1993). A time to ignition - temperature - moisture relationship for branches of three western conifers. Can. J. For. Res. 23(2): 253–258.