Post-fire vegetation and fuel development influences fire severity patterns in reburns
The authors sampled field plots that reburned to examine how biophysical characteristics, topography, fire weather, time-since-fire, and initial fire severity affected subsequent reburn severity
The authors found that areas that burned initially as high- or moderate-severity fire were more likely to reburn at high severity due to the increase in snags and shrub vegetation as a result of the first fire entry. Average daytime temperature was the most important predictor of high severity fire in the reburn. When temperatures exceeded a threshold of >27.3°C (81°F), snag basal area and shrub cover were the strongest variable driving reburn severity patterns. They also found that as time between fires increased, severity also increased.
Climate and Fire Linkages
Average daytime temperature was the most important predictor of high severity fire in the reburn. When temperatures exceeded a threshold of >27.3°C (81°F), snag basal area and shrub cover were the strongest variable driving reburn severity patterns.
Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages
The authors found that areas that burned initially as high- or moderate-severity fire were more likely to reburn at high severity due to the increase in snags and shrub vegetation as a result of the first fire entry.
The authors found that areas that burned initially as high- or moderate-severity fire were more likely to reburn at high severity due to the increase in snags and shrub vegetation as a result of the first fire entry. They also found that as time between fires increased, severity also increased.