Browsing by Author "Bilgili E."

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Canopy fuel characteristics and fuel load in young black pine trees
(2007-01-01) Kucuk O.; Saglam B.; Bilgili E.
Crown structure and fuel loading are important factors affecting crown fire occurrence and behavior. This paper reports on the canopy fuel characteristics and regression models to determine Canopy Fuel Loading (CFL) of young black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) trees. Equations were based on the data from 11 destructively sampled black pine plantation trees. This data was used to develop best equations fit with ordinary least squares procedures that estimate available and total canopy fuel load for young black pine plantation trees. Model fits for available and total canopy fuel load were generally good. Results indicated that available and total canopy fuel load could be easily predicted using diameter at breast height (D), variable. The resulting equations were able to account for 94% of the observed variation in the total canopy fuel load. Average tree canopy fuel load was 8.9 kg. On average 41% of canopy fuel load was allocated to the needle, 13% to the fine branch, 20% to the medium branch, 18% to thick branch and 8% to the very thick branch. Vertical distribution of canopy fuels was variable. Most foliage was found on the main branches of the medium portion of the canopy. The lower and upper portions of the crown had relatively less foliage. The results of the study allowed also for the comparisons of linear and nonlinear equations of biomass estimation commonly used in literature. © 2007 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
Crown fuel characteristics and fuel load estimates in young calabrian pine (Pinus brutia ten.) stands in Northwestern Turkey
(2008-12-01) Kucuk O.; Bilgili E.
Crown structure and fuel loading are important fuel characteristics affecting crown fire occurrence and behavior. This paper reports on the crown fuel characteristics and regression models to determine crown fuel load of young Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) trees. Crown bulk density (CBD), crown base height (CBH) and basal area (BA) were 0.212 kg m-3, 4.5 m and 24.18 m2 ha-1, respectively. Average crown fuel load (CFL) was 1.51 kg m-2. The proportion of needle and available fuel (needle+fine branches) were 19.1 and 48.2 percent, respectively. Also, regression equations were developed for predicting needle, branch and total biomass of Calabrian pine trees. Equations were based on the data from 35 destructively sampled Calabrian pine trees. The relationships between needle and branch biomass and tree properties were determined by linear regression, considering tree properties as the independent and needle, branch and total biomass as the dependent variables. Diameter at breast height (DBH), crown length (CL) and crown width (CW) were the most significant independent variables for crown fuel biomass. The resulting equations were able to account for 58-80% of the observed variation in total biomass. The results of this study will not only contribute to the prediction of fire behavior, but it will surely be of invaluable use in other forestry disciplines.
Diurnal surface fuel moisture prediction model for Calabrian pine stands in Turkey
(2019-06-01) Bilgili E.; Coskuner K.A.; Usta Y.; Saglam B.; Kucuk O.; Berber T.; Goltas M.
This study presents a dynamic model for the prediction of diurnal changes in the moisture content of dead surface fuels in normally stocked Calabrian pine stands under varying weather conditions. The model was developed based on several empirical relationships between moisture contents of dead surface fuels and weather variables, and calibrated using field data collected from three Calabrian stands from three different regions of Turkey (Mugla, southwest; Antalya, south; Trabzon, north-east). The model was tested and validated with independent measurements of fuel moisture from two sets of field observations made during dry and rainy periods. Model predictions showed a mean absolute error (MAE) of 1.19% for litter and 0.90% for duff at Mugla, and 3.62% for litter and 14.38% for duff at Antalya. When two rainy periods were excluded from the analysis at Antalya site, the MAE decreased from 14.38% to 4.29% and R2 increased from 0.25 to 0.83 for duff fuels. Graphical inspection and statistical validation of the model indicated that the diurnal litter and duff moisture dynamics could be predicted reasonably. The model can easily be adapted for other similar fuel types in the Mediterranean region.
Estimating above-ground fuel biomass in young calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.)
(2009-04-16) Bilgili E.; Kucuk O.
Crown fuel biomass is of great importance in the field of forest-fire science. In this study, regression equations were developed for predicting needle, branch, and total biomass of young calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) trees and saplings. Equations were based on the data from 71 destructively sampled trees and saplings. The relationships between needle and branch biomass and tree properties were determined by linear regression, considering tree properties as the independent variable and needle, branch, and total biomass as the dependent variables. Tree and sapling properties included tree height (H), crown length (CL), crown width (CW), diameter at breast height (DBH), and root collar diameter (RCD). Results indicated that needle, branch, and total biomass could be accurately predicted using the regression equations obtained. The resulting equations were able to account for 60-94% of the observed variation in the total biomass. © 2009 American Chemical Society.
Estimating crown fuel loading for calabrian pine and Anatolian black pine
(2008-02-26) Küçük O.; Bilgili E.; Saǧlam B.
Fuels are of great importance in fire behaviour prediction. This paper deals with the prediction of aboveground foliage and branch biomass of calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) and Anatolian black pine (P. nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. nigra var. caramanica (Loudon) Rehder). The study was based on a total of 418 destructively sampled calabrian and black pine trees and saplings. As a result of the analyses, several regression equations were developed for predicting foliage, fine branch (<0.6 cm), medium branch (0.6?1.0 cm), active fuels (foliage + fine branch), thick branch (1.0?2.5 cm), and total fuel loading. The relationships between fuel biomass and tree properties were determined by multiple linear regressions, considering tree properties as the independent variables, and foliage, branch, active fuel and total biomass as the dependent variables. Tree properties included tree height, crown length, crown width, diameter at breast height and root collar diameter. Results indicated that foliage, branch and total biomass could all be accurately predicted based on the readily measurable and/or predictable tree characteristics. Of the fuel characteristics, crown length, crown width, and height were the three most significant predictors of fuel biomass. The results of this study will not only contribute to the prediction of fire behaviour, but will also be of invaluable use in other forestry disciplines. © IAWF 2008.
Estimating fuel biomass of some Shrub species (maquis) in Turkey
(2008-01-01) Saǧlam B.; Küçük O.; Bilgili E.; Durmaz B.D.; Baysal I.
Regression equations were developed to estimate shrub fuel biomass of a maquis formation in western Turkey. The relationships between some shrub characteristics and live, dead, available (for consumption), and total fuel biomass were determined by simple/multiple linear regression. Measured biomass values for live, available, and total fuels varied from 0.70 to 6.74 kg m-2, from 0.78 to 3.03 kg m-2, and from 1.06 to 7.72 kg m-2, respectively. The results obtained indicated that shrub fuel biomass could be satisfactorily predicted using the regression equations generated. The resulting equations were able to account for 60% to 89% of the observed variation (P < 0.05) in the fuel biomass categories studied. The results of this study should be invaluable in many forestry disciplines, including ecology, protection, and management. © TÜBİTAK.
Estimation of carbon emissions from experimental fires in young anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) plantations
(2010-05-18) Kucuk O.; Bilgili E.
This paper presents and discusses the direct carbon emissions from experimental fires in young Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) plantation stands. The estimates were based on eighteen experimental fires carried out under different weather and fuel conditions. Total fuel loading in plots ranged from 2.14 to 3.09 kg m-2, fuel consumption from 1.36 to 2.09 kg m-2, consumption ratio from 54 to 87%, respectively. The amount of total carbon emission ranged from 0.298 to 0.918 kg m-2. Factors affecting the amount of carbon emissions were fuel loading, burned area and consumption ratio. The results will be useful to understand me role of forest fires in C emissions, and help meet the requirements of the international agreements and regulations, such as Kyoto Protocol as well as Land Use and Land Use Change in Forestry Program (LULUCF). © by PSP.
Fire behavior in Mediterranean shrub species (Maquis)
(2008-11-19) Saǧlam B.; Bilgili E.; Küçük O.; Durmaz B.D.
The prediction of fire behavior in fire prone ecosystems is of vital importance in all phases of fire management including fire prevention, presuppression, suppression and fire use. This paper deals with an experimental burning exercise conducted in the Mediterranean region in Turkey. A series of 18 experimental fires were carried out in tall maquis fuels in Asar District, Antalya, southwestern Turkey. The site was selected for its structural homogeneity. But, there was an apparent variation in the fuel loadings in different plots. Weather conditions were within reasonable ranges during the burns. Wind speed ranged from 4.8 to 14.4 km h-1, relative humidity from 16 to 76% and air temperature from 23.7 to 36°C. Of the fire behavior characteristics, rate of spread ranged from 0.38 to 7.35 m min-1, fuel consumption from 1.57 to 3.05 kg m-2, and fire intensity from 188.72 to 5906.48 kW m-1. Rate of spread was related to wind speed, relative humidity, moisture content of live fuels and vegetation cover. Fuel consumption was related to fuel loading and wind speed, and fire intensity was related to wind speed, moisture contents of live fuels and mean vegetation height and vegetation cover. Results obtained in this study should be invaluable in fire management planning. © 2008 Academic Journals.
Fire development from a point source in surface fuels of a mature anatolian black pine stand
(2007-01-01) Küçük O.; Bilgili E.; Baysal I.
A total of 28 line and 24 point-source fires were ignited under varying weather and fuel loading conditions in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra J.F.Arnold subsp. nigra var. caramanica (Loudon) Rehder) stands. Relationships between the rate of fire spread and fuel and weather conditions were determined with correlation and regression analyses. The rate of fire spread ranged from 0.12 to 1.20 m min-1 in line fires. In the ignition, transition, and steady state phases of point-source fires, the rate of fire spread ranged from 0.04 to 0.78 m min-1, from 0.11 to 0.59 m min-1, and from 0.08 to 0.99 m min-1, respectively. Surface fuel loading ranged from 1.27 to 2.45 kg m-2 for line fire and from 1.56 to 2.67 kg m-2 for point-source fire. The results showed that the rate of fire spread was closely related to wind speed and fuel moisture content for line and point-source fires. The linear prediction for wind conditions estimates that equilibrium spread rates may be achieved within 25 min after the ignition of point-source fires. © TÜBİTAK.
Fuel modelling and potential fire behavior in Turkey
(2015-01-01) Kucuk O.; Bilgili E.; Fernandes P.M.
Description of fuel characteristics is an essential input to fire behavior models that can provide decision-support for fire management. Fuel models describe fuel characteristics for fire modeling systems based on Rothermel's fire spread model. In this study, fire behavior data collected in field experiments in different fuel complexes in Turkey is used in the process of fuel model development. Nine fuel models were built for low and tall maquis, Anatolian black pine (P. nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. nigra var. caramanica (Loudon) Rehder), litter, and slash variable in age and load. BehavePlus simulations of fire rate of spread, flame length and fireline intensity for typical summer weather conditions highlight the quite different fire potential between the studied fuel types. The difficulty in dealing with fuel complexes dominated by live fuels was evident from the simulations. On the contrary, the model correctly predicted the observed temporal decrease of fire behavior in slash. This study shows the crucial importance of experimental fire data to parameterize fuel models.
Predicting canopy fuel characteristics in Pinus brutia Ten., Pinus nigra Arnold and Pinus pinaster Ait. Forests from stand variables in North-Western Turkey
(2021-02-01) Kucuk O.; Goltas M.; Demirel T.; Mitsopoulos I.; Bilgili E.
Canopy fuel characteristics play an important role in crown fire behaviour in conifer forests. In this study, the canopy fuel characteristics of Calabrian pine, Anatolian Black pine and Maritime pine stands in Turkey are estimated using forest stand parameters. Sets of equations are fitted to the measured data revealing correlations between canopy fuel characteristics and stand parameters by performing a stepwise multiple regression analysis. At the stand level, the resulting models explain a high percentage of the observed variability. The developed equations can be used by forest and fire managers to estimate canopy fuel characteristics, predict crown-fire behaviour and design fuel treatment projects in Turkey.
Rates of surface fire spread in a young calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) plantation
(2012-01-01) Kucuk O.; Bilgili E.; Bulut S.; Fernandes P.M.
Fire behaviour data and models are essential in modern fire management. Thirty five experimental line-ignited fires were carried out in a young calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) stand with the objective of modelling the rate of surface fire spread. Relationships between rate of fire spread, and fuel, weather and topographical conditions were established by correlation and regression analyses. Dead fine fuel loading ranged from 0.19 to 0.68 kg m-2. Rate of fire spread varied from 0.3 to 3.75 m min-1 and flame length ranged from 5 cm to 55 cm. Rate of fire spread equations were generated that described the relationships of spread rate with fuel and weather conditions, using linear regression models. Wind speed had a dominant effect on rate of surface fire spread and explained 72% (P < 0.01) of the observed variation.
Some parameters affecting fire behavior in anatolian black pine slash
(2008-01-01) Küçük O.; Bilgili E.; Saǧlam B.; Başkaya S.; Dinç Durmaz B.
This study presents and discusses the results of a fire behavior study conducted in Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold subsp. nigra var. caramanica (Loudon) Rehder) slash. A total of 30 experimental fires were conducted over 3 years under varying weather and fuel loading conditions in aging slash. Relationships between fire behavior and fuel properties and weather conditions were determined with correlation and regression analyses. Spread rate, fuel consumption, and fire intensity were all related to fuel properties and weather, and ranged from 0.2 to 3.1 m min-1, from 0.71 to 6.65 kg m-2, and from 14.05 to 3961.46 kW m-1, respectively. Fuel loading ranged from 1.56 kg m-2 to 6.96 kg m-2. Differences in fire behavior were clearly shown to be a function of wind speed, fuel moisture, slash age, and fuel loading. Results obtained in this study should be invaluable in overall fire management practices. However, its use should be restricted to the range of conditions within which the data were gathered. © TÜBİTAK.
Spatio-temporal analysis of forest fire risk and danger using Landsat imagery
(2008-06-01) Saǧlam B.; Bilgili E.; Durmaz B.D.; Kadioǧullari A.I.; Kücük O.
Computing fire danger and fire risk on a spatio-temporal scale is of crucial importance in fire management planning, and in the simulation of fire growth and development across a landscape. However, due to the complex nature of forests, fire risk and danger potential maps are considered one of the most difficult thematic layers to build up. Remote sensing and digital terrain data have been introduced for efficient discrete classification of fire risk and fire danger potential. In this study, two time-series data of Landsat imagery were used for determining spatio-temporal change of fire risk and danger potential in Korudag forest planning unit in northwestern Turkey. The method comprised the following two steps: (1) creation of indices of the factors influencing fire risk and danger; (2) evaluation of spatio-temporal changes in fire risk and danger of given areas using remote sensing as a quick and inexpensive means and determining the pace of forest cover change. Fire risk and danger potential indices were based on species composition, stand crown closure, stand development stage, insolation, slope and, proximity of agricultural lands to forest and distance from settlement areas. Using the indices generated, fire risk and danger maps were produced for the years 1987 and 2000. Spatio-temporal analyses were then realized based on the maps produced. Results obtained from the study showed that the use of Landsat imagery provided a valuable characterization and mapping of vegetation structure and type with overall classification accuracy higher than 83%.