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Fuel and weather influence wildfires in sand pine forests

Informally Refereed

Abstract

A complex combination of fuel and weather factors accounts for the dangerous fires that often develop during the spring in sand pine forests of Florida. Moisture content of live needles is lowest in March, and resin and energy contents reach their yearly highs during the 4-month period from February through May. These fuel properties become critical, however, only when they are accompanied by rainfall deficiencies that begin in the fall and winter and continue through the spring and by unstable airmasses with tow relative humidities and high-winds.

Citation

Hough, W. A. 1973. Fuel and weather influence wildfires in sand pine forests. Research Paper SE-RP-106. Asheville, NC: USDA-Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 11 p.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/42407