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The Effect of Fuel Characteristics and Fire Dynamics on Emissions, Dispersion, and Air Quality Impacts (RC20-1304)-abstract-2022 SERDP ESTCP Symposium
Citation:
Gullett, B. The Effect of Fuel Characteristics and Fire Dynamics on Emissions, Dispersion, and Air Quality Impacts (RC20-1304)-abstract-2022 SERDP ESTCP Symposium. Presented at SERDP ESTCP Symposium, Washington, DC, DC, November 29 - December 01, 2022.
Impact/Purpose:
This poster addresses emissions from prescribed fires of natural landscapes. This poster describes efforts being undertaken to understand how fire dynamics dictates emissions. The project intends to inform ignition processes and fuel characteristics such as type and moisture content and how those processes affect emission type and level. This work will be of interest to wildland fire scientists and land managers.
Description:
This project is linking prescribed fire properties to emissions through development of an emission prediction module within FIRETEC, a computational fluid dynamics fire model of spatial and temporal variation in fire character. Five sets of field and laboratory data have been generated in the last year, examining how ignition patterns, fuel characteristics, and meteorological conditions affect the character (e.g., rate of spread, flame height) of prescribed fire and the resulting emissions. Results have shown, for example, a 3- to 10-fold change in particulate matter emissions depending on these parameters. Better understanding of these effects promises to promote more informed use of prescribed burning by lowering the risk that fire emissions, and their impact on ambient air quality exceedances, roadway hazards, and respiratory health, limit the use of prescribed fire. The project investigators have made use of operational burns, laboratory burns, open test burns, and field wind tunnel burns to test simulated and indigenous vegetation. Emissions have been sampled using stationary, boom-mounted, and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) based samplers. UAS flights have also been used monitor flame spread and temperatures. The project goal is a predictive understanding of methods to minimize prescribed fire emissions and encourage the use of this land management tool on installations.
URLs/Downloads:
https://www.serdp-estcp.org/events/details/97e490e2-90ed-47b6-8faf-980cb3b6a4b2/2022-serdp-estcp-and-oe-innovation-symposium