Climate-Fire Relationships in a Rare High Elevation Forest
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Climate-Fire Relationships in a Rare High Elevation Forest Danielle Klaas Mentor: Dr. Pete Fulé
description
Climate-Fire Relationships in a Rare High Elevation Forest. Danielle Klaas Mentor: Dr. Pete Fulé. My Study:. Apply dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to understand forest ecology. Reconstruct historical patterns of forest fires: severity and frequency. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Climate-Fire Relationships in a Rare High Elevation Forest
Climate-Fire Relationships in a Rare High Elevation Forest
Danielle KlaasMentor: Dr. Pete Fulé
My Study:
• Apply dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to understand forest ecology.
• Reconstruct historical patterns of forest fires: severity and frequency.– Severe fires kill entire groups of trees, after which
even-aged tree groups form.– Fire frequency determined from fire scarred trees.
• Compare historical conditions to current management
Hypotheses:• Historically fires were mixed
severity • Modern management
increased risk of large severe fires
Analyze:• Forest composition &
structure• Fire regimes
50-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350 351-400 401-450 451-50005
10152025303540
Pinus aristata Age Distribution
Age (years)
Freq
uenc
y of
Tre
es
050
100150200250300350
Plot 1331
Trees
Age
(yea
rs)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120Plot 1278
Trees
Age
(yea
rs)
Even-Aged Stand= 70% of trees are within 30 years of each other
Uneven-Aged Stand = 70% of trees are not within 30 years of each other
Pinus Aristata Stand Age Distribution
72%
28%Uneven AgedEven Aged
Fire Scars
Living Snag StumpLog 23 9 2
2
Fire Years
1729175217541773178017991805183418421845184718671879
Conclusion
1. First Pinus aristata fire regime study in the SW
2. Forest structure changes
3. Climate warming
4. Risks of severe fire
Acknowledgements
Dr. Pete FuléNAU NASA Space GrantAZ Space Consortium
NAU School of Forestry
Questions
