The Effect of Wind Speed on WildfiresGroup 4Alex DickeySam HeckTess RinaldoMichael Neuder

Testable Question

How does wind speed affect the rate at which fire travels?

Source: http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/compass/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/04.23.NOAA_.wildfirel.jpg

Context: Colorado Wildfires

Last Chance Fire: Burned over 45k acres

High Park Fire: Burned over 87,250 acres

Flagstaff Fire: Burned 2,400 Households

Waldo Canyon: 32,000 evacuated Little Sand Fire: 22,400 acres

burned  Black Forest Fire: 14,280 acres

burned

Context: Effects of Wildfires These six fires occurred in the past 3 years Causing extreme environmental damage

Mud slides Destruction of wildlife habitat

Population displacement Loss of life Property damage

Affected water quality Waldo Canyon: Lost reservoir due to

sedimentation

Context: Prevention This experiment will lead to more

effective prevention methods for wildfires Predict rate of fire spreading

Based on terrain and weather Increased response efficiency

Notify responders faster Better prediction of high risk areas

Based on terrain and weather data from previous fires

More effective response methods Applying fire retardant to predicted area

Hypothesis If we increase the wind speed acting

upon a fire at different gradients, then the fire will spread fastest with high wind speeds at an uphill slope because wind will supply oxygen to the fire and heat rises.

Proposed Investigation We will build upon a study conducted

by the USDA Forest Service Studied effects of terrain slope on fire

spread We will be using an identical setup

with additions to test for wind speed

Apparatus 1 x 3 meter adjustable tray Shredded aspen bark Electric coil beneath bark for ignition Large fan with adjustable speeds Anemometer

Apparatus

Procedure Five Gradients

-45, -25, 0, 25, 45 degrees Four wind speeds

0, 15, 30, 60 Kilometers per hour Three trial per combination of

windspeed and gradient Speed measured in seconds

Sample Data Table

Bibliography Auburn University. (2005, March 8). Weather elements that affect fire behavior. Retrieved from PFMT Fire

website: https://fp.auburn.edu/fire/weather_elements.htm

Bonsor, K. (2001, May 29). How wildfires work. Retrieved from http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/wildfire2.htm

DHSEM. (2013, July 8). Colorado Wildfire Report: July 8. Retrieved from Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website: http://dhsem.state.co.us/news/2013-07-08/colorado-wildfire-report-july-8

Stoner, N. (2012, September 12). Wildfires impact water resources in Colorado. Retrieved from http://blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/09/wildfires-impact-water-resources-in-colorado/

U.S. USDA Forest Service. (2007). Influence of slope on fire spread rate (Research Report No. RMRS-P-46CD) (B. W. Butler, W. R. Anderson, & E. A. Catchpole, Authors). Retrieved from http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_p046/ rmrs_p046_075_082.pdf