Abstract
Using 100 years of fire perimeter maps, we investigate the existence of geographical patterns in fire orientation across California. We computed fire perimeter orientation, at the watershed level, using principal component analysis. Circular statistics were used to test for the existence of preferential fire perimeter orientations. Where perimeters displayed preferential orientation, we searched for evidence of orographic channeling by comparing mean fire orientation with watershed orientation. Results show that in California, 49% of the burnt area is associated with watersheds, where fires displayed preferential orientation. From these, 25% of the burnt area is aligned along the NE/SW orientation and 18% in the E/W orientation. In 27 out of 86 watersheds with preferential fire alignment, there is also correspondence between mean fire orientation and watershed orientation. Topographic influence on fire spread and dominant wind patterns during the fire season can account for the consistency in fire perimeter orientation in these regions. Our findings highlight the historical pattern of fire perimeter orientation and identify watersheds with potential orographic channeling.
Highlights
Wildfires are a common occurrence across many ecosystems of the world [1,2,3,4]
Watersheds where fires are more elongated are mostly located in the northern Sierra Nevada, Northeastern Plateau and in the South Coast transition to the Southeastern
Analysis of fire orientation at the watershed level in California suggests the existence of preferential fire alignment patterns in the Sierra Nevada and Southern California bioregions
Summary
Loss of lives and threats to conservation make headlines and create a passionate debate that challenges fire ecologists, scientists, managers and society to develop ways to coexist with fire-prone environments [5,6,7,8,9] This is true in the wildland urban interface (WUI), where large and devastating fires have deep impacts on people, emphasizing the need for effective wildfire risk management [5,10]. Such is the case in California, as in many other Mediterranean-climate regions, where highly fire-prone ecosystems coupled with the expansion of the WUI lead to major fires with large-scale losses [5,6,7]. In many forests, fire suppression has been successful enough to generate high levels of fuel accumulation, increasing the likelihood of severe fires [16]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
