Fire Control Research Articles

Bark thickness variation in five young South African-grown Pinus species and hybrids

Key messageUnderstanding bark allocation in juvenile stages of commercially viablePinustrees can be useful in dating wood formation, thus improving the accuracy of correlating wood quality to environmental factors.Bark is an important and multifunctional part of plant anatomy that has been researched mostly in the context of fire history, timber resource assessments and more recently as a bioresource. Few studies have comprehensively examined bark thickness in some commercially valuable Pinus species. More importantly, the role of bark in accurately dating wood formation has seldom been researched. This study was conducted to model and compare bark thickness variation between different species of young South African-grown Pinus trees including Pinus radiata var. radiata D. Don., Pinus elliottii Engelm., Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis, Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii (Low Elevation), and Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii (High Elevation). Measurements were taken at 1.6 and 2.3 years including absolute and relative bark thickness and distribution along the stem. Results showed species-specific variation in absolute and relative bark thickness with the highest means recorded in Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea and lowest in Pinus radiata. A positive linear relationship was observed between bark thickness and diameter, consistent with all species and ages. Absolute bark thickness decreased along the stem from bottom to top while more nuanced patterns of variation were observed for relative bark thickness. These findings underscore the importance of understanding bark thickness in young trees for various applications, including dating wood formation, anticipatory breeding strategies for quality wood and predicting stand quality among others.

Homo erectus adapted to steppe-desert climate extremes one million years ago

Questions about when early members of the genus Homo adapted to extreme environments like deserts and rainforests have traditionally focused on Homo sapiens. Here, we present multidisciplinary evidence from Engaji Nanyori in Tanzania’s Oldupai Gorge, revealing that Homo erectus thrived in hyperarid landscapes one million years ago. Using biogeochemical analyses, precise chronometric dating, palaeoclimate simulations, biome modeling, fire history reconstructions, palaeobotanical studies, faunal assemblages, and archeological evidence, we reconstruct an environment dominated by semidesert shrubland. Despite these challenges, Homo erectus repeatedly occupied fluvial landscapes, leveraging water sources and ecological focal points to mitigate risk. These findings suggest archaic humans possessed an ecological flexibility previously attributed only to later hominins. This adaptability likely facilitated the expansion of Homo erectus into the arid regions of Africa and Eurasia, redefining their role as ecological generalists thriving in some of the most challenging landscapes of the Middle Pleistocene.

The Inhibition Effect of CO2-N2 Composite Gas on Spontaneous Combustion of Coal and the Law of Competitive Adsorption in Coal

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to study the effect of CO2-N2 composite gas on coal spontaneous combustion index gas and the mechanism of inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion through a competitive adsorption process and to provide theoretical guidance for adopting inert injection fire prevention and control technology in goaf to prevent coal spontaneous combustion. The programmed temperature experiment and gas chromatography were used to analyze the indicator gas after injecting different mixed ratios of CO2 and N2 inert gas. In the whole oxidation heating process (25–300 ℃), the generation of indicator gas and the peak point of gas ratio showed an apparent “Hysteresis phenomenon” and the more significant the proportion of CO2 in the composite inert gas, the more pronounced the “Hysteresis phenomenon.” Even in the CO2-dry air environment, the peak point disappears, indicating that with the injection of N2 and CO2, the coal body is in a more complex gas atmosphere, and a variety of gases are in the process of adsorption and desorption on the inner and outer surfaces of the coal body. The characteristics of the evolution of the spontaneous combustion oxidation process of coal are more complex, directly affecting the coal-oxygen interaction, thus affecting the intuitive combustion oxidation process. Molecular simulation studies the characteristics of coal molecules on CO2, N2, and O2. The results show that the adsorption capacity and adsorption energy of coal molecules on CO2 molecules are more significant than O2 and N2, and there is a competitive adsorption relationship between CO2 and N2 molecules and O2 molecules, and the competitive adsorption capacity of CO2 is more significant than N2. It shows that the composite inert gas can inhibit the coal-oxygen adsorption by competitive adsorption to displace oxygen and achieve the combustion inhibition effect. The experimental and theoretical basis for developing and improving inert gas fire extinguishing technology is provided by studying the index gas after CO2-N2 composite inert gas action and the adsorption capacity and energy in the competitive adsorption process.

Effect of water mist system settings on fire and upstream smoke control in a longitudinally ventilated tunnel

The effect of Water Mist System (WMS) settings on fire Heat Release Rate (HRR), smoke gas temperature, smoke blocking effectiveness and required critical velocity were investigated in a 3 m (width)× 2.2 m(height)× 30 m (length) tunnel model equipped with longitudinal ventilation (LV). A total of 60 tests were conducted in 12 configurations, varying the nozzles position, nozzle row number and nozzles pressure. Additionally, 5 bucket tests were also carried out to assess the influence of LV on water mist trajectories. The bucket test results revealed a strong correlation between fire HRRs and the “local” water quantity on the ground near the fire source, particularly for smaller fires. The WMS’s effectiveness in reducing the maximum smoke gas temperature rise and critical velocity largely depends on the nozzles which are placed closest to the fire source to a great extent. Reducing the distance to the fire source or increasing water flow rates could both enhance the reduction effect. However, activating additional upstream nozzle rows provides minimal benefit, as the interaction between adjacent rows becomes negligible at higher LV velocities. In contrast, increasing the number of nozzle rows can enhance smoke blocking effectiveness, as measured by the confinement velocity reduction rate. The findings demonstrate that the entrainment and blockage effect of WMS are the primary determinants of the smoke back-layering (BL) degree under the confinement velocity conditions, rather than the smoke cooling effect. Furthermore, positioning the WMS upstream of the fire source and maintaining a certain distance can optimize the combined effects of WMS and LV on fire HRR and smoke back-layering control, which is partly due to the water mist deflection under ventilation flow. This preliminary study provides foundational data on fire and smoke control using water mist in longitudinally ventilated tunnels and offers insights for the optimal design of WMSs.

Frequent, heterogenous fire supports a forest owl assemblage.

Fire shapes biodiversity in many forested ecosystems, but historical management practices and anthropogenic climate change have led to larger, more severe fires that threaten many animal species where such disturbances do not occur naturally. As predators, owls can play important ecological roles in biological communities, but how changing fire regimes affect individual species and species assemblages is largely unknown. Here, we examined the impact of fire severity, history, and configuration over the past 35 years on an assemblage of six forest owl species in the Sierra Nevada, California, using ecosystem-scale passive acoustic monitoring. While the negative impacts of fire on this assemblage appeared to be ephemeral (1-4 years in duration), spotted owls avoided sites burned at high-severity for up to two decades after a fire. Low- to moderate-severity fire benefited small cavity-nesting species and great horned owls. Most forest owl species in this study appeared adapted to fire within the region's natural range of variation, characterized by higher proportions of low- to moderate-severity fire and relatively less high-severity fire. While some species in this assemblage may be more resilient to severe wildfire than others, novel "megafires" that are larger, more frequent, and contiguously severe may limit the distribution of this assemblage by reducing the prevalence of low- to moderate-severity fire and eliminating habitat for a closed-canopy species for multiple decades. Management strategies that restore historical low- to moderate-severity fire with small patches of high-severity fire and promote a mosaic of forest conditions will likely facilitate the conservation of this assemblage of forest predators.

Optimizing Adaptive Particle Swarm for Combined Fire and Storage Control FM Energy Reserve

Optimizing Adaptive Particle Swarm for Combined Fire and Storage Control FM Energy Reserve

Durability Capacity of Women Cultivators Under Pressure of Forest and Land Fire Control Regulation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

This study aims to explore the conditions of pressure and durability capacity of women cultivators facing the pressures of regulation on forest and land fire control in Indonesia. The results of this study highlight that the scientific knowledge and patriarchal capitalism perspective contribute to product regulation in Indonesia, and then creating women cultivators as a non-class subjects. Thus, the woman cultivators are victims of that regulation. Women cultivators have various complex strategies and adaptations in dealing with multiple pressures under regulations on one site, corporations and food estate programs on other sites. The act of burning fields is not intended to fight the rules, but an act with no alternatives for survival from the lowest view. The act of burning is an act of utilizing the capacity to produce and reproduce the capacity of remaining food sources and the capacity for subsistence independence. Understanding the act of burning fields by Oloh Ngaju women cultivators is an effort to understand the farming activities as rationalized by individual actions within the limits of their interests and limit power (setting the limits to domination). So it is very possible to propose the concept of subsistence feminism to see the type of the grassroots women's movement.

AN IMPROVED MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE METHOD OF FULLY PREPARING THE DETERMINATION OF FIRING UNITS FOR HITTING THE INFORMATION AND CALCULATION COMPONENT OF THE AUTOMATED FIRE CONTROL SYSTEM OF COMBAT VEHICLES OF REACTIVE ARTILLERY

Context. As part of the automation of the fire control system of rocket artillery combat vehicles, in relation to the preparation of data for firing and fire control, the information and computing process of this system has been improved, namely, the mathematical model of the method of fully preparing the determination of installations for firing projectiles used in rocket salvo fire systems has been improved. In the system of differential equations of the mathematical model of the information and computing process of the component of the automated fire control system of combat vehicles of jet artillery, weighting functions for air temperature, wind influence for the active and passive sections of the projectile flight trajectory and the section of the opening of combat elements have been introduced, which allows determining the weighting coefficients for them for each projectile type. Objective. To improve the information and calculation component of the automated fire control system of combat vehicles of reactive artillery, by improving the mathematical model of the method of full preparation of the determination of installations for firing on damage. Having proposed a system of differential equations that will take into account the weighting functions of air temperature, wind influence for active and passive sections of the projectile flight path and the section of the opening of combat elements, and will also give the opportunity to determine weighting coefficients for each type of projectile based on them, which in turn will lead to an increase the accuracy of determining firing settings. Method. The proposed analytical method allows: to calculate the weighting coefficients for each type of rocket, characterizing the process of the approach of the rocket flight to the tabular trajectory and to set the initial conditions necessary for solving the differential equations of the mathematical model of the information-computing process of the component of the automated fire control system of combat vehicles of rocket artillery; to increase the accuracy of determining firing positions when performing firing tasks, which makes it possible to quickly respond to a change in the combat situation by means of changes in the softwaremathematical process of the automated fire control system; effectively and efficiently ensure the development or clarification of textual and graphic administrative and combat documents based on the results obtained using differential equations of the mathematical model of the information-computational process of the component of the automated fire control system. Results. The improved information and calculation component of the automated fire control system of combat vehicles of jet artillery was tested during the conduct of hostilities. The system of differential equations of the mathematical model of the information-computing process of the component of the automated fire control system of combat vehicles of reactive artillery ensures a timely response to a change in the situation in the information-computational process of the component of the automated fire control system of combat vehicles of reactive artillery during firing and fire control. Provides an opportunity to efficiently and quickly ensure the development or clarification of textual and graphic administrative and combat documents based on the information received during the execution of fire missions. Conclusions. The calculations based on the proposed system of differential equations confirm the improvement of the information-calculation component of the automated fire control system of jet artillery combat vehicles and allow timely response to changes in tasks in the information-calculation process during firing and fire control, as well as effectively and quickly ensure the formation of formalized messages and documents based on the information received during the execution of a fire mission by units of reactive artillery. Prospects for further research are the creation of agreed mathematical methods, models, algorithms and programs for the implementation of the goals and tasks of firing and fire control when compiling Firing Tables for prospective or received combat vehicles of reactive artillery from partners.

Analysis of the application potential of the "Kanonir" computer artillery range in the training of ground artillery specialists

An analysis of the technical capabilities of the computer artillery range (the "Kanonir" product) has been conducted to support the training of cadets and officers in artillery units on topics such as optical and aerial reconnaissance, target detection and acquisition, and execution of fire missions against moving and stationary targets using various methods to determine fire settings. The accuracy of object placement, structures, local landmarks, and characteristic landscape points on the simulator's 3D terrain map was verified by comparing coordinates and elevations. The accuracy of determining topographic data for targets, calculating corrections for deviations from standard firing conditions, and determining fire settings for various artillery systems with standard ammunition was also checked. The possibilities of using this computer range for performing individual fire missions on simulation tools were evaluated. A comprehensive analysis of this software product's capabilities for use in the training of cadets and officers of artillery units was performed. Based on the analysis results, the primary training areas in which the "Kanonir" product is appropriate to use were identified. The results of a pedagogical experiment conducted using the "Kanonir" product in the training of cadets in the "Shooting and Fire Control" course were presented. Additionally, practical recommendations were provided for preparing, setting up, using, and, overall, improving the effectiveness of this software in the training of cadets and artillery officers.

Research on Fire Smoke Characteristics and Key Factor Evaluation in High‐Altitude Traffic Tunnels

ABSTRACTGiven the seriousness of fire safety issues in high‐altitude traffic tunnels, it is essential to investigate the spatial temperature characteristics under the coupling of multiple factors and their correlation with fire safety elements. This study systematically conducted full‐scale simulation analyses of highway tunnels to reveal the distribution of transverse and longitudinal spatial temperature as well as the longitudinal smoke diffusion patterns. Based on the simulation data, an integrated approach utilizing orthogonal test analysis, deviation analysis, and sensitivity analysis was employed to explore the impacts of various factors, including altitude, the transverse position of the fire source, fire scale, and wind speed, on tunnel fire safety. The results indicate that the influence of altitude on the longitudinal temperature along the arch and the position of spatial cross‐section characteristic points varies. Longitudinal ventilation speed is a relatively key factor affecting tunnel fire safety, particularly in terms of arch temperature and smoke backflow length, where its impact is significant. Additionally, fire scale has a notable impact on evacuation safety, with its overall influence ranking just below that of wind speed. In contrast, altitude and fire source position have relatively minor effects on tunnel fire safety. Inadequate longitudinal ventilation hinders the escape of personnel during tunnel fires, indicating that the design and operation of ventilation systems should be prioritized in fire prevention and control strategies. The findings of this study have significant practical implications for optimizing fire prevention and response capabilities in high‐altitude tunnels.

A 13,000-year history of vegetation and fire in a rare inland pine barrens: The Albany Pine Bush (Albany County, New York, USA).

Two radiocarbon-dated pollen and charcoal records from cores collected at Stump Pond and a wetland in suburban Albany County, New York, provide new insights into the environmental history of a unique inland pine barrens that is currently surrounded and threatened by urban development: the Albany Pine Bush (APB). The Stump Pond core shows that the pond formed roughly 13,000 years ago with the recession of glacial Lake Albany. From ca. 13,000 to 11,000 years ago spruce (Picea) and other boreal forest taxa were more common in the region than they are today, but both cores show that pine-oak (Pinus-Quercus) assemblages similar to those of today's APB have been predominant components of the local forests for the last ca. 11,000 years. Abundant charcoal in both cores demonstrates that fire activity was a frequent occurrence in the APB throughout its history, particularly for the last ca. 6400 years. Water tables rose in response to increasingly humid hydroclimates, leading to the establishment of the wetland site ca. 6400 years ago and a greater abundance of ferns and mosses there during the last millennium. More recently, expanding urbanization and its associated impacts demonstrate that human activity has become the primary driver of change in the APB ecosystem.

Study on Preparation and Heat Insulation Properties of Solidified Foams for Forest Fire Prevention and Control

ABSTRACT For effective prevention and control of forest fires, a new type of solidified foam was prepared by using composite foaming agent, foam stabilizer, sodium silicate, sodium bicarbonate solution, loess and cement as raw materials. The optimal ratio of solidified foam surfactant, foam stabilizer, gel agent, crosslinking agent and powder was investigated experimentally. Its thermal insulation performance was tested and its thermal insulation mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that when the surfactant ratio was SDS: AES = 2:1, the concentration was 0.8%, the concentration of foam stabilizer dodecyl alcohol, gelling agent WG and crosslinking agent NaHCO3 were 0.08%, 10% and 2%, respectively. When the powder ratio is loess: cement = 4:6, water-cement ratio 0.6 and foam content 8 V, the comprehensive performance of solidified foam is the best. The solidified foam is heated at different temperatures, and the temperature rise is the slowest. When it is heated at 400°C, the highest temperature is 71.92°C, which is 75.89°C lower than the highest temperature of gel foam. The fire retardant material has excellent stability and can block heat for a long time. In the process of fire extinguishing, it can effectively isolate oxygen, reduce heat transfer efficiency, and inhibit the spread of fire.

Ecological dynamics in Banksia aemula woodlands following widespread, anthropogenic wildfires on a world heritage listed island (K'gari), Australia

AbstractThe increased severity and frequency of wildfires are a growing threat to biodiversity globally posing a complex challenge for the management of protected areas. K'gari, a World Heritage‐listed sand barrier island located off the coast of Australia, was extensively burnt in wildfires in 2019 and 2020. Banksia aemula low open woodland (BALOW) is a fire‐adapted ecosystem, and Banksia aemula is the dominant vegetation type on the island. This research explored interactions between vertebrate fauna and flora species richness and structure after fires in the BALOW habitat. We employed camera trapping and vegetation surveys to estimate species richness and habitat structure. We detected 28 fauna and 56 plant species, including two vulnerable species. Fauna species richness differed between sites; the site with the most intense, extensive, and recent fire had the lowest fauna species richness and mammal species richness. In contrast, the site with lower intensity and more frequent historical fires had the highest fauna diversity. The long unburnt site had higher overall tree diversity and reduced shrub diversity. This research further highlights the need for evidence‐based fire management in protected areas and the risk that large‐scale and/or high‐intensity fires may pose to biodiversity even within fire‐adapted ecosystems.

Optimization of the structure of the security communication system of on-board and ground equipment of the integrated radio complex for recovery of ground targets

The basis of the offensive ground grouping of the armies of the militarily leading countries are highly maneuverable objects (launchers of tactical missiles, batteries, platoons, sections of self-propelled guns, rocket launchers and mortars, self-propelled installations of anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft guided missiles with an autonomous system guidance, helicopters on landing sites, defeating these objects is artillery. According to estimated data, artillery in the confrontation with Russia accounted for 70 to 80% of all losses suffered by the parties to the conflict. The effectiveness of artillery fire depends on the total error of the shot, the number of guns involved in hitting the target, the rate of fire of artillery systems, the striking effect of ammunition and their number, the area of the target, the timeliness of its detection and opening fire on it. At the same time, the speed of detecting a highly maneuverable target and the accuracy of determining its coordinates play a key role in attacking the enemy with fire. Therefore, in the process of preparing data for firing and fire control, artillery reconnaissance means are of essential importance. The key tactical characteristics of artillery reconnaissance are maximum range and informativeness. The combination of these tasks consists in the integration of air and ground means of surveillance within the framework of a single automated radar complex for reconnaissance of firing positions and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The exchange of information between the ground and air components of the complex, the transmission of data to the automated guidance and fire control system takes place through the interference-protected communication channels using signal repeaters placed on the UAV. For the practical implementation of such complexes, new and improved known methods of signal generation and processing are proposed. The developed phase, clock and frame synchronization systems are based on the modernized scheme of the phase auto-frequency adjustment system, which makes it possible to reduce the time of entering into synchronization and increase the tracking band, significantly improve the quality of signal demodulation, and significantly increase the immunity of communication channels in the conditions of a complex interference environment. The mathematical models developed in the work made it possible theoretically and experimentally, through simulation modeling on computer, without material costs to evaluate the effectiveness of using the proposed new and improved known methods of synthesis of hardware to ensure communication with the necessary reliability and reliability of information transmission. Based on the results of simulation modeling, the structure of the radio channel using the relay of information signals and control commands, the structural diagrams of the transmitting and receiving devices, and the main technical characteristics of their constituent parts are determined. This made it possible to implement an experimental sample of the proposed system of interference-protected communication, to evaluate the achieved technical characteristics and to determine ways to improve them.

Experimental Study on the Effect of Synergistic Extinguishing Method Based on Liquid Nitrogen on Lithium-Ion Battery Fire After Thermal Runaway

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) catch fire easily due to thermal runaway (TR). Fires following TR in LIBs pose a serious threat to public safety. Effective extinguishing methods for LIB fires have not been developed. In this work, the effect of a synergistic fire extinguishing method based on liquid nitrogen (LN) is evaluated for the suppression effect of LIB fires. LiNixCoyMnzO2 (NCM) LIBs of 106 Ah were used in the experiments. The effects of LN, water and C6F12O (Perfluorohexanone) were compared separately, as well as the synergistic effects of LN with either water or C6F12O. The results show that all agents successfully extinguished the flame and prevented the battery from reignition. Spraying LN with water resulted in the highest efficiency, and achieved the lowest peak temperature rebound and rate of rebound. It also maintained low temperatures for twice as long as using LN alone. The results show that the synergistic extinguishing method based on LN offers significant advantages in fire control. This work provides a new perspective on suppressing LIB fires after thermal runaway.

Fire control of artillery units with the help of UAVs of ‘Quadrocopter’ type

Fire control of artillery units with the help of UAVs of ‘Quadrocopter’ type

Evaluation of global fire simulations in CMIP6 Earth system models

Abstract. Fire is the primary form of terrestrial ecosystem disturbance on a global scale and an important Earth system process. Most Earth system models (ESMs) have incorporated fire modeling, with 19 of them submitting model outputs of fire-related variables to the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). This study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of CMIP6 historical fire simulations by comparing them with multiple satellite-based products and charcoal-based historical reconstructions. Our results show that most CMIP6 models simulate the present-day global burned area and fire carbon emissions within the range of satellite-based products. They also capture the major features of observed spatial patterns and seasonal cycles, the relationship of fires with precipitation and population density, and the influence of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the interannual variability of tropical fires. Regional fire carbon emissions simulated by the CMIP6 models from 1850 to 2010 generally align with the charcoal-based reconstructions, although there are regional mismatches, such as in southern South America and eastern temperate North America prior to the 1910s and in temperate North America, eastern boreal North America, Europe, and boreal Asia since the 1980s. The CMIP6 simulations have addressed three critical issues identified in CMIP5: (1) the simulated global burned area being less than half of that of the observations, (2) the failure to reproduce the high burned area fraction observed in Africa, and (3) the weak fire seasonal variability. Furthermore, the CMIP6 models exhibit improved accuracy in capturing the observed relationship between fires and both climatic and socioeconomic drivers and better align with the historical long-term trends indicated by charcoal-based reconstructions in most regions worldwide. However, the CMIP6 models still fail to reproduce the decline in global burned area and fire carbon emissions observed over the past 2 decades, mainly attributed to an underestimation of anthropogenic fire suppression, and the spring peak in fires in the Northern Hemisphere mid-latitudes, mainly due to an underestimation of crop fires. In addition, the model underestimates the fire sensitivity to wet–dry conditions, indicating the need to improve fuel wetness estimation. Based on these findings, we present specific guidance for fire scheme development and suggest a post-processing methodology for using CMIP6 multi-model outputs to generate reliable fire projection products.

Effects of Rock Water with Different Alkalinity and Pre-Oxidation on Re-Ignition Characteristics of Residual Coal

ABSTRACT To investigate the impact of alkaline rock water (pH = 8, 9) combined with pre-oxidation on changes in pore structure and functional groups of residual coal in goaf, and consequently, on the secondary oxidation and spontaneous combustion characteristics of coal samples, an analysis was conducted. This analysis focused on examining changes in pore morphology and functional group content of pre-oxidized coal (OI0) and water-immersed oxidized coal (OI) through experiments utilizing low-temperature nitrogen adsorption and in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared spectroscopy. Secondary oxidation and spontaneous combustion characteristics of coal samples were analyzed using thermogravimetric differential thermal analysis incorporating oxidation kinetic theory. The findings indicated that after the combined effect of pre-oxidation and alkali leaching, the mesopore volume of the coal decreased, pore complexity increased, oxygen storage capacity was enhanced, and the apparent activation energy of the coal samples was significantly reduced. This reduction in activation energy was pronounced at lower temperatures but less so at higher temperatures. Specifically, the methyl and methylene contents of OI9 were significantly higher than those of other coal samples within the temperature range of 80–160°C. Meanwhile, the heat release of the low-temperature oxidation stages of OI0, OI8, and OI9 increased by 70.82%, 190.25%, and 75.05%, respectively, compared with RC. The study indicates an elevated risk of spontaneous coal combustion following the combined treatment of alkaline leaching and pre-oxidation. This research elucidates the mechanism of spontaneous combustion of water-immersed coal by alkaline rock water and pre-oxidation, providing valuable insights for the control of coal fires in alkaline mine-water environments.

Monitoring Postfire Biodiversity Dynamics in Mediterranean Pine Forests Using Acoustic Indices

In recent decades, climate change has significantly influenced the frequency and intensity of wildfires across Mediterranean pine forests. The loss of forest cover can bring long-term ecological changes that impact the overall biodiversity and alter species composition. Understanding the long-term impact of wildfires requires effective and cost-efficient methods for monitoring the postfire ecosystem dynamics. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) has been increasingly used to monitor the biodiversity of vocal species at large spatial and temporal scales. Using acoustic indices, where the biodiversity of an area is inferred from the overall structure of the soundscape, rather than the more labor-intensive identification of individual species, has yielded mixed results, emphasizing the importance of testing their efficacy at the regional level. In this study, we examined whether widely used acoustic indicators were effective at capturing changes in the avifauna diversity in Pinus halepensis forest stands with different fire burning histories (burnt in 2001, 2009, and 2018 and unburnt for >20 years) on the Sithonia Peninsula, Greece. We recorded the soundscape of each stand using two–three sensors across 11 days of each season from March 2022 to January 2023. We calculated for each site and season the following five acoustic indices: the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), Acoustic Diversity Index (ADI), Acoustic Evenness Index (AEI), Normalized Difference Soundscape Index (NDSI), and Bioacoustic Index (BI). Each acoustic index was then assessed in terms of its efficacy at predicting the local avifauna diversity, as estimated via two proxies—the species richness (SR) and the Shannon Diversity Index (SDI) of vocal bird calls. Both the SR and SDI were calculated by having an expert review the species identification of calls detected within the same acoustic dataset by the BirdNET convolutional neural network algorithm. A total of 53 bird species were identified. Our analysis shows that the BI and NDSI have the highest potential for monitoring the postfire biodiversity dynamics in Mediterranean pine forests. We propose the development of regional-scale acoustic observatories at pine and other fire-prone Mediterranean habitats, which will further improve our understanding of how to make the best use of acoustic indices as a tool for rapid biodiversity assessments.

Review of: “South African Armoured Vehicles: A History of Innovation and Excellence” by Dr Dewald Venter

South African Armoured Vehicles provides a detailed 13 chapters description of the armoured vehicles by providing the armour development, design features such as endurance and logistics, vehicle layout, protection, fire control system, mobility and the operational history. This detailed descriptions are meant to help the reader understand the difference between the vehicles, as well as why there was a need to upgrade the vehicles from time to time. This is an excellent book that provides both introductory and in-depth analysis of the SA military vehicles as well as providing an Illustration of over 100 authentic photographs and more than two dozen custom-drawn colour profiles of the armoured vehicles. This is an amazingly detailed read and indispensable source of reference for anyone who is interested in the historical development of the SA military vehicles.