Controls on interannual variability in lightning-caused fire activity in the western US
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15550995 |
|---|---|
| Authors | John T Abatzoglou (0000-0001-7599-9750, University of Idaho, corresponding author), Crystal A Kolden (0000-0001-7093-4552, University of Idaho), Jennifer K Balch (0000-0002-3983-7970, University of Colorado Boulder), B A Bradley (0000-0003-4912-4971, University of Massachusetts Amherst) |
| Year | 2016 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 045005-045005 |
| Publication date | 2016-04-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Environmental Research Letters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1748-9326 • E-ISSN: 1748-9326 |
| Publisher | IOP Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1088/1748-9326/11/4/045005 |
| OpenAlex | W2336985578 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 13 |
| References cited | 4 |
Lightning-caused wildfires account for a majority of burned area across the western United States (US), yet lightning remains among the more unpredictable spatiotemporal aspects of the fire environment and a challenge for both modeling and managing fire activity. A data synthesis of cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, climate and fire data across the western US from 1992 to 2013 was conducted to better understand geographic variability in lightning-caused wildfire and the factors that influence interannual variability in lightning-caused wildfire at regional scales. Distinct geographic variability occurred in the proportion of fires and area burned attributed to lightning, with a majority of fires in the interior western US attributed to lightning. Lightning ignition efficiency was highest across the western portion of the region due to the concomitance of peak lightning frequency and annual nadir in fuel moisture in mid-to-late summer. For most regions the number of total and dry lightning strikes exhibited strong interannual correlation with the number of lightning-caused fires, yet were a poor predictor of area burned at regional scales. Commonality in climateâ fire relationships for regional annual area burned by lightning- versus human-ignited fires suggests climate conditions, rather than lightning activity, are the predominant control of interannual variability in area burned by lightning-caused fire across much of the western US
Climatology · Geography · Lightning (connector · Meteorology · Physical geography · Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols · Environmental Science · Fire effects on ecosystems · Plant responses to elevated CO2 · Geology
Using Complementary Drought Proxies Improves Interpretations of Fire Histories in Montane Forests
Observed Impacts of Anthropogenic Climate Change on Wildfire in California
Human-started wildfires expand the fire niche across the United States
Global and Regional Trends and Drivers of Fire Under Climate Change
Spatial patterns and drivers for wildfire ignitions in California
Future increases in lightning ignition efficiency and wildfire occurrence expected from drier fuels in boreal forest ecosystems of western North America
Variability of fire emissions on interannual to multi-decadal timescales in two Earth System models
In ecoregions across western USA streamflow increases during post-wildfire recovery
Beyond summer fires
Focus on changing fire regimes
Lightning response to temperature and aerosols
Could the exception become the rule? “Uncontrollable” air pollution events in the U.S. due to wildland fires
Global environmental controls on wildfire burnt area, size, and intensity
| Unique citing works | 13 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1,3 |
| Citation span | 2016 - 2026 (11) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 12 |