Assessment, Monitoring and Prediction of Forest Fire Danger Using Atmospheric Soil Measuring Complex

Abstract

Large-scale combustion of forest fuels stops when the entire forest area is burned out, when a natural obstacle is encountered on the path of a forest fire front (channel of a large river, mountain range) or at the beginning of the rainy season. In this situation, the problem can be solved only in anticipation of a catastrophic phenomenon, which is possible only when developing a methodology for assessing, monitoring, and predicting forest fire dangers. The purpose of this article is to develop a methodology for assessing, monitoring, and predicting forest fire dangers using an atmospheric-soil measuring complex, which provides information on the meteorological parameters and some data on soil in the control zone of a forest fire situation. The structure of the instrumental network for monitoring environmental parameters in order to forestall forest fires is proposed. Criteria for assessing forest fire dangers have been developed using data from the atmospheric-soil measuring complex located at one of the stations in the Republic of Buryatia. Typical results of assessment, monitoring, and predicting forest fire danger using these data are presented. Recommendations are proposed for the implementation of the methodology under consideration in the practice of forest fire protection.