You are here

FAU Collections » FAU Research Repository » FAU Theses and Dissertations

Critical behavior of forest fires: Theory and numerical simulations

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
2000
Summary:
Forest fire is an integral part of natural ecosystems. Understanding the mechanisms governing the formation and propagation of forest fire is imperative for effectively managing the natural resources of a forest and minimizing or eliminating damages caused by uncontrolled forest fire. Numerical simulation of two-dimensional forest fires indicates that there is a critical state at which the fire is likely to spread to the entire forest. The effects of wind conditions and multiple tree species are studied using numerical simulations and various Mean Field Approximations. Results from the analytical calculations agree well with numerical simulations for square lattice forest fire. Other lattice structures are also investigated. Mathematical models with non-linearly coupled equations are derived to study finite, layered, pseudo-two-dimensional forest fires. Critical states can be predicted by evaluating these non-lineady coupled equations.
Title: Critical behavior of forest fires: Theory and numerical simulations.
149 views
79 downloads
Name(s): Lu, Huizong
Florida Atlantic University, Degree Grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Physics
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 2000
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 152 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Forest fire is an integral part of natural ecosystems. Understanding the mechanisms governing the formation and propagation of forest fire is imperative for effectively managing the natural resources of a forest and minimizing or eliminating damages caused by uncontrolled forest fire. Numerical simulation of two-dimensional forest fires indicates that there is a critical state at which the fire is likely to spread to the entire forest. The effects of wind conditions and multiple tree species are studied using numerical simulations and various Mean Field Approximations. Results from the analytical calculations agree well with numerical simulations for square lattice forest fire. Other lattice structures are also investigated. Mathematical models with non-linearly coupled equations are derived to study finite, layered, pseudo-two-dimensional forest fires. Critical states can be predicted by evaluating these non-lineady coupled equations.
Identifier: 9780599806405 (isbn), 12645 (digitool), FADT12645 (IID), fau:9527 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Adviser: Luc T. Wille.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2000.
Subject(s): Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12645
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.