@article {bnh-6928,
	title = {Sources of soil dryness measures and forecasts for fire danger rating },
	year = {2015},
	month = {12/2015},
	institution = {Bureau of Meteorology },
	address = {Canberra},
	abstract = {<p>The fuel availability estimates in McArthur Forest Fire Danger Index used in Australia for issuing operational fire warnings is based on soil moisture deficit, calculated as either the Keetch{\textendash}Byram Drought Index (KBDI) or Mount{\textquoteright}s Soil Dryness Index (MSDI). These indices are essentially simplified, empirical water balance models designed to estimate soil moisture depletion in the upper soil levels. These two models over-simplify processes like evapotranspiration and runoff which can lead to large uncertainties in the predicted soil moisture deficit. With advancements in the science of soil moisture measurement and modelling, better products are available for use in fire danger ratings. As such, a detailed review of the established and emerging soil moisture estimation techniques becomes necessary. With this in view, efforts have been made in this paper to discuss various soil moisture estimation methods, their advantages and limitations in a fire danger rating context. The discussion is not intended to be complete and reflect the authors{\textquoteright} interests, but we hope that it helps to highlight the soil moisture data sources that may not be well known outside the hydrological community, especially the people in fire management.</p>},
	keywords = {fire management, Forecasting, forest fire danger index, fuel, soil dryness},
	isbn = {978-0-642-70672-0},
	issn = {Bureau Research Report - BRR009},
	url = {http://www.bom.gov.au/research/publications/researchreports/BRR-009.pdf},
	author = {Vinod Kumar and Imtiaz Dharssi}
}
