2004 UC Proceedings Abstract
 Modeling Fire Behavior on the Landscape of the Southern Appalachians Track: Ecology and Conservation Author(s): Hugh Irwin Fire is increasingly acknowledged as an important ingredient in natural ecosystems, and prescribed fire is increasingly used as a tool to restore the dynamics to fire dependent natural systems. The pattern of natural fire on the landscape of the Southern Appalachians is likely a complex mosaic of burned and unburned areas reflecting physical conditions (slope position, aspect, moisture, as well as long-term and recent weather patterns). This pattern of burns on the landscape would also both reflect and shape ecological communities. As prescribed fires are applied to the landscape the potential exists to both restore as well as harm ecological communities. In order to apply prescribed fire appropriately and to reestablish natural fire regimes requires knowledge of the pattern of burns under natural conditions on the landscape. A GIS model will be described and displayed that predicts fire behavior on the landscape based on physical conditions and ecological communities. Hugh Irwin SAFC 46 Haywood Street Suite 323 Asheville , NC 28801 US Phone: 828-252-9223 Fax: 828-252-9074 E-mail: hugh@safc.org |
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