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Seasonality and fire severity in savanna landscapes of monsoonal northern Australia

TitleSeasonality and fire severity in savanna landscapes of monsoonal northern Australia
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsRussell-Smith, J, Edwards, AC
JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire
Volume15
Issue4
Pagination541
Date Published2006
AbstractTen years of photo and associated data records from an extensive fire and vegetation effects monitoring programme established in two large north Australian National Parks were used to (1) develop a simple-to-use semiquantitative fire severity index based on observed fire impact on vegetation, particularly leaf-scorch height; and (2) explore relationships between seasonality and fire severity in different landform and vegetation types. Using a three-tiered fire severity scale, data for 719 fires recorded from 178 plots over the period 1995–2004 indicate that the great majority of early dry season (pre-August) fires were of very low severity (fire-line intensities <<1000 kW m–1), whereas fires later in the dry season were typically of substantially greater severity. Similar trends were evident for vegetation occupying all landform types. The utility and limitations of the fire severity index, and implications for ecologic, greenhouse inventory, and remote sensing applications are discussed.
DOI10.1071/WF05111
Short TitleInt. J. Wildland Fire
Refereed DesignationRefereed

Published Works

Publication Type

Journal Article

Journal Article

Publication Year

Year of Publication 2006