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Modelling canopy fuel variables in Pinus pinaster Ait. and Pinus radiata D. Don stands in northwestern Spain

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Abstract

Context

The fuel complex variables canopy bulk density and canopy base height are often used to determine crown fire initiation and spread. Direct measurement of these variables is impractical, and they must be estimated indirectly.

Aims

The objectives of the present study were to model the vertical profile of available crown fuel in maritime and radiata pine stands in NW Spain, using data from destructively sampled trees; to compare the values of the canopy fuel variables estimated by two different methods and to estimate these variables from common stand descriptors.

Methods

Systems of equations were fitted simultaneously to address the inherent correlations between available crown fuel components and between the canopy fuel variables. Heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation were also taken into account in the fitting process, where necessary.

Results

The values of the canopy fuel variables varied greatly depending on the estimation method used. Models for predicting the variables at stand level explained a high percentage of the observed variability. Crowning is more likely in maritime pine than in radiata pine stands.

Conclusions

Although the approach used in this study provides a realistic depiction of the vertical distribution of crown fuel, it departs from the requirements of Van Wagner’s model. The method used to estimate canopy fuel variables affects fire modelling results and thus the design of fuel treatment projects.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to two anonymous reviewers whose comments substantially improved an earlier version of this manuscript.

Funding

Funding for this research was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project No. AGL2008-02259/FOR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Escuela Politécnica Superior. C/Benigno Ledo, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Campus Universitario, 27002, Lugo, Spain

    Ibán Gómez-Vázquez, Felipe Crecente-Campo & Ulises Diéguez-Aranda

  2. Departamento de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agrarias, Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingeniería Agraria, Universidad de León, Avda. de Astorga s/n, 24400, Ponferrada, León, Spain

    Fernando Castedo-Dorado

Authors
  1. Ibán Gómez-Vázquez
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  2. Felipe Crecente-Campo
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  3. Ulises Diéguez-Aranda
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  4. Fernando Castedo-Dorado
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fernando Castedo-Dorado.

Additional information

Handling Editor: Eric Rigolot

Contribution of the co-authors

Iban Gómez-Vázquez analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. Felipe Crecente-Campo collected the data, provided technical assistance in model fitting and supervised the writing of the manuscript. Ulises Diéguez-Aranda provided part of the experimental data and revised the text. Fernando Castedo-Dorado developed the experimental design, coordinated the research project and supervised the work.

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Gómez-Vázquez, I., Crecente-Campo, F., Diéguez-Aranda, U. et al. Modelling canopy fuel variables in Pinus pinaster Ait. and Pinus radiata D. Don stands in northwestern Spain. Annals of Forest Science 70, 161–172 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-012-0245-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13595-012-0245-9

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