Influence of forest humidity on the distribution of forest fires in the territory of Serbia

Abstract

In this study, we examined the dependence of the influence of forest humidity conditions on the variability of forest fires in Serbia. The changes in values of the Forest Aridity Index (FAI) and the De Martonne Drought Index (IDM) in the period 2009-2018 were analyzed, with an emphasis on 2012 and 2014. Data from ground meteorological measurements at 14 main meteorological stations on the territory of Serbia were used. The analysis of the FAI index determines a positive correlation on the activity of forest fires in the territory of Serbia. FAI values indicate marked increases for 2012 and 2017 when the largest number of forest fires was registered in Serbia. The lowest values of this index are for 2014, when we registered the smallest occurrence of forest fires in Serbia. Decrease in the value of the IDM index was observed during 2011, 2012 and 2017 correlated with a larger number of forest fires in the period. The greatest threat to forests from fire is in the administrative district of Kragujevac (region of Šumadija and Western Serbia) and Vranje (region of Southern and Eastern Serbia) and the lowest in the area of Sombor and Kikinda (region of Vojvodina). At nine of the fourteen meteorological stations, the De Martonne Drought Index (IDM) showed stronger connection with the occurrence of forest fires compared to the Forest Aridity Index (FAI).