Class
Article
College
S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources
Department
Wildland Resources Department
Faculty Mentor
Larissa Yocom
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
Aspen stands are widely thought to behave as fire breaks, reducing fire severity and preventing fire spread. However, this prevailing belief has not been well studied. With larger more intense fires in recent decades and further projected changes in fire behavior for the future, having a better understanding of how aspen trees and stands interact with fire would be valuable for forecasting how our forests will respond to climate change and disturbance in the future. In addition, forest managers in Utah and other regions of the Intermountain West conduct aspen restoration treatments for multiple objectives, including fire mitigation. To quantify aspen interactions with fire, I used remotely sensed data including an aspen cover map and maps of fire severity from the 2017 Brian Head fire and the 2018 Trail Mountain fire. Field validation of the remotely sensed burn severity was also conducted. To determine whether aspen cover is correlated with fire severity, I conducted a linear regression between aspen cover data and fire severity data. I also conducted a perimeter analysis to determine whether fire spread is disproportionally limited where aspen cover values were high. My hypothesis that aspen reduce fire severity and spread was partially supported, suggesting that aspen cover is influential in reducing fire severity in moderate fire conditions. This research has broad implications for firefighting, forest management, and aspen regeneration. Presentation Time: Thursday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/82644853581?pwd=QytsZ1ZFQ3FhUlVzL0NuVHRXRzhYZz09
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
4-11-2021 12:00 AM
Included in
Do Aspen Stands Reduce Fire Severity and Stop Fire Spread?
Logan, UT
Aspen stands are widely thought to behave as fire breaks, reducing fire severity and preventing fire spread. However, this prevailing belief has not been well studied. With larger more intense fires in recent decades and further projected changes in fire behavior for the future, having a better understanding of how aspen trees and stands interact with fire would be valuable for forecasting how our forests will respond to climate change and disturbance in the future. In addition, forest managers in Utah and other regions of the Intermountain West conduct aspen restoration treatments for multiple objectives, including fire mitigation. To quantify aspen interactions with fire, I used remotely sensed data including an aspen cover map and maps of fire severity from the 2017 Brian Head fire and the 2018 Trail Mountain fire. Field validation of the remotely sensed burn severity was also conducted. To determine whether aspen cover is correlated with fire severity, I conducted a linear regression between aspen cover data and fire severity data. I also conducted a perimeter analysis to determine whether fire spread is disproportionally limited where aspen cover values were high. My hypothesis that aspen reduce fire severity and spread was partially supported, suggesting that aspen cover is influential in reducing fire severity in moderate fire conditions. This research has broad implications for firefighting, forest management, and aspen regeneration. Presentation Time: Thursday, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Zoom link: https://usu-edu.zoom.us/j/82644853581?pwd=QytsZ1ZFQ3FhUlVzL0NuVHRXRzhYZz09