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Multidecadal trends in area burned with high severity in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area 1880-2012.

Authors :
Morgan, Penelope
Hudak, Andrew T.
Wells, Ashley
Parks, Sean A.
Baggett, L. Scott
Bright, Benjamin C.
Green, Patricia
Source :
International Journal of Wildland Fire; 2017, Vol. 26 Issue 11, p930-943, 14p
Publication Year :
2017

Abstract

Multidecadal trends in areas burned with high severity shape ecological effects of fires, but most assessments are limited to ~30 years of satellite data. We analysed the proportion of area burned with high severity, the annual area burned with high severity, the probability areas burned with high severity and also the area reburned (all severities and high burn severity only) over 133 years across 346 265 ha within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness (SBW) Area in Idaho, United States. We used burn severity class inferred from digitised aerial photography (1880-2000) and satellite imagery (1973-2012). Over this long record, the proportion burned with high severity did not increase, despite extensive area burned in recent decades. Much greater area burned with high severity during the Early (1880-1934) and Late (1975-2012) periods than during the Middle period (1935-1974), paralleling trends in area burned. Little area reburned with high severity, and fires in the Early period limited the extent of fires burning decades later in the Late period. Our results suggest that long-term data across large areas provides useful context on recent trends, and that projections for the extent and severity of future fires must consider prior fires and fire management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjects

Subjects :
FIRES
AERIAL photography

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10498001
Volume :
26
Issue :
11
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
International Journal of Wildland Fire
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
126137795
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1071/WF17023