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Publication Details

Title:
Characteristics of masticated particles in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States: Experimental burns and smoldering tests
Author(s):
Sikkink, Pamela G.
Publication Year:
2017
How to Cite:
These data were collected using funding from the U.S. Government and can be used without additional permissions or fees. If you use these data in a publication, presentation, or other research product please use the following citation:
Sikkink, Pamela G. 2017. Characteristics of masticated particles in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States: Experimental burns and smoldering tests. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0035
Abstract:
This data publication contains the results from 45 experimental burns and 48 smoldering tests on masticated materials from mixed-conifer forests. These data were collected from 15 study locations from 2012 through 2016 as part of the MASTIDON project. The MASTIDON project was a four-year study to describe the phyical characteristics of masticated materials that were treated with four different cutting heads in xeric and mesic environments. The main focus of the project was to evaluate how leaving the particles on the ground for varying lengths of time affected the burnability of the particles. The project was funded by the Joint Fire Sciences Program (JFSP) and RMRS between 2013 and 2016.

The masticated particles were created by four different machines, including a vertical rotating head, horizontal drum, chipper, and mower. They had been decomposing in situ in wet and dry areas of Idaho, and dry areas of Colorado, New Mexico, and South Dakota since their initial treatment and were between 0 and 10 years old. The materials were burned at the RMRS Missoula Fire Sciences lab, Missoula, MT. The experimental burns were conducted in a combustion facility on a large fuel bed 0.68 square meters in size. The smoldering tests were conducted on beds 497 square centimeters in size under a fume hood in the soils laboratory. This download includes (1) data on fire behavior within the experimental burns, including rate of spread, flame height, flame duration, consumption, heat flux, moisture content, and more; (2) temperature data, burn durations, duff moistures and thicknesses from the smoldering tests; (3) photos of the experimental burn beds and smoldering beds; and (4) files describing the MASTIDON project and its goals.

Keywords:
masticated fuels; fire behavior modeling; flame length; rate of spread; heat pulse below surface; physical effects of mastication; ponderosa pine; western larch; forest fire management; fire ecology; soil heating; Joint Fire Science Program; JFSP; Forest management; Forest ecology; biota; western United States; Idaho; Colorado; New Mexico; South Dakota; Rocky Mountains
Related publications:
  • Keane, Robert E.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Jain, Therese B. Unpublished material. Physical and chemical characteristics of surface fuels in masticated mixed-conifer stands of the U.S. Rocky Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-XXXX. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. (IN PRESS).
  • Keane, Robert E.; Sikkink, Pamela G.; Jain, Therese B. Unpublished material. Physical and chemical characteristics of surface fuels in masticated mixed-conifer stands of the U.S. Rocky Mountains. JFSP Final Report. 13-1-05-8. 32 pp. https://www.firescience.gov/projects/13-1-05-8/project/13-1-05-8_final_report.pdf
  • Sikkink, Pamela G. 2017. Characteristics of masticated particles in mixed-conifer forests of the western United States: Shape, particle, and fuel load characteristics. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2017-0012
  • More (6 total)
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