ATS1310 Midterm: SUMMARY NOTES - BUSHFIRES
9 Aug 2018
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Combustion: process of burning something (chemical reaction involving rapid combination of a fuel with oxygen, involving production of heat & light) Fire: chemical reaction in which energy in the form of heat is produced. Fire behaviour: the manner in which a fire reacts to influences of fuel, weather & topography. Fire intensity: rate of heat energy released by a fire. Fire severity: the degree to which an ecosystem is altered/disrupted by fires. Australia has one of most fire prone landscapes in the world. Controlled fires (prescribed burns) used to manage fuel, to protect life & property & to promote/maintain biodiversity. Uncontrolled fires (bushfires/wildfires) especially dangerous in those areas where australia"s large urban communities merge with their rural surroundings. Perimeter of fire is elliptical (elongates as wind speed increases) Shape of fire depends on shape of initial fire (e. g. may start from a line) Rate of spread depends on fuel moisture.
