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Spatial and Temporal Variability of Forest Floor Moisture Characteristics and Their Influence on Wildfires in Western Siberia over 2016–2021

  • ATMOSPHERIC RADIATION, OPTICAL WEATHER, AND CLIMATE
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Abstract

The spatial and temporal variability of forest floor moisture characteristics is analyzed on the basis of the Canadian Forest Fire Weather Indices (CFFWIS) for the territory of Western Siberia (45°–75° N, 60°–90° E) over 2016–2021 for the first time. The floor moisture effect on the number of wildfires (hotspots) during the warm season (March–October) is assessed. The results are given for different natural zones. Statistically significant correlations are found between hotspots and floor moisture at a depth of 7 cm only in certain spring and summer months (correlation coefficient is up to 0.54). The strongest effect (correlation coefficient is up to 0.60) on wildfires is observed for floor moisture at a depth of 1.2 cm in the south of Western Siberia in April. Thus, we can conclude that the forest floor moisture is an important parameter in description of conditions for fire initiation and development. However, its effect on the behavior of wildfires requires additional studies with accounting for meteorological and atmospheric conditions. The results can be used for forecasting the potential fire danger.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to S.V. Loginov and K.N. Pustovalov (IMCES SB RAS) for their help in processing the initial data.

Funding

This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 22-27-00494).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 634055, Tomsk, Russia

    E. V. Kharyutkina & E. I. Moraru

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  1. E. V. Kharyutkina
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  2. E. I. Moraru
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Correspondence to E. V. Kharyutkina or E. I. Moraru.

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Kharyutkina, E.V., Moraru, E.I. Spatial and Temporal Variability of Forest Floor Moisture Characteristics and Their Influence on Wildfires in Western Siberia over 2016–2021. Atmos Ocean Opt 36, 169–175 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1024856023030077

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1024856023030077

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