Fire Behavior Assessment Team: fire severity data

Metadata:
Identification_Information:
Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Reiner, Alicia L.
Originator: Ewell, Carol M.
Originator: Fites-Kaufman, Josephine A.
Originator: Dailey, Scott N.
Originator: Noonan-Wright, Erin K.
Originator: Norman, Tiffany P.
Originator: Vaillant, Nicole M.
Originator: Dickinson, Matthew B.
Originator: Morgan, Chelsea
Originator: Courson, Mark
Originator: Campbell, Mike
Publication_Date: 2020
Title:
Fire Behavior Assessment Team: fire severity data
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: tabular digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0030
Description:
Abstract:
This data publication contains the raw and processed fire severity data for the plots in which pre- and post-fire fuels, and fire behavior data were collected by the Fire Behavior Assessment Team (FBAT) on a subset of wildland fires in the United States from 2003-2017. FBAT collects pre- and post-fire fuels and tree data along with fire behavior measurements on wildland fires. FBAT is an interagency group of primarily Forest Service employees with both monitoring and fireline qualifications which collects pre- and post-fire fuels and tree data along with fire behavior measurements on wildland fires. Logistics (proximity to instrumentation/crew members), funding, fire activity, and monitoring questions influenced the geographic regions and fires where sampling was attempted, for instance, fuel treatments recorded in the Forest Service Activity Tracking System (FACTS), as well as tree mortality areas, were each targets for FBAT sampling in the past. This publication includes both understory vegetation and substrate post-fire severity data collected on belt transections for each of 19 different wildland fires. The percent of cover that was unburned was recorded, along with the percent of cover that had low, moderate, high, and very high burn severity.
Purpose:
These data are collected by the FBAT team to provide measures of pre-fire fuels/vegetation, active fire behavior (with sensors in the fire), and post-fire fuels/vegetation conditions during wildfires and prescribed fires for improving understanding and tools related to fire behavior and fire effects.
Supplemental_Information:
For more information about FBAT data see: https://www.fs.fed.us/adaptivemanagement/projects_main_fbat.php.

These data were published on 04/20/2020. On 12/03/2020 this data publication was updated to include a supplemental file that provides a diagram of the FBAT plot layout and a brief list of key method changes throughout the years FBAT has taken data to present (2020).
Time_Period_of_Content:
Time_Period_Information:
Range_of_Dates/Times:
Beginning_Date: 20030701
Ending_Date: 20171101
Currentness_Reference:
Ground condition
Status:
Progress: In progress
Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: Irregular
Spatial_Domain:
Description_of_Geographic_Extent:
The data were collected on wildland fires across the United States, mostly in California as well as Montana, Idaho, Arizona, Wyoming and Georgia. For more information regarding the location of these fires see Reiner et al. (2018, https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0056).
Bounding_Coordinates:
West_Bounding_Coordinate: -127.97220
East_Bounding_Coordinate: -65.25879
North_Bounding_Coordinate: 51.63280
South_Bounding_Coordinate: 22.76568
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Theme_Keyword: substrate severity
Theme_Keyword: vegetation severity
Theme_Keyword: burn severity
Theme_Keyword: fire severity
Theme_Keyword: biomass
Theme_Keyword: Joint Fire Science Program
Theme_Keyword: JFSP
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: ISO 19115 Topic Category
Theme_Keyword: environment
Theme:
Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: National Research & Development Taxonomy
Theme_Keyword: Ecology, Ecosystems, & Environment
Theme_Keyword: Fire
Theme_Keyword: Fire ecology
Theme_Keyword: Fire effects on environment
Theme_Keyword: Inventory, Monitoring, & Analysis
Theme_Keyword: Natural Resource Management & Use
Theme_Keyword: Forest management
Place:
Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
Place_Keyword: United States
Place_Keyword: California
Place_Keyword: Montana
Place_Keyword: Idaho
Place_Keyword: Arizona
Place_Keyword: Wyoming
Place_Keyword: Georgia
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
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:

Reiner, Alicia L.; Ewell, Carol M.; Fites-Kaufman, Josephine A.; Dailey, Scott N.; Noonan-Wright, Erin K.; Norman, Tiffany P.; Vaillant, Nicole M.; Dickinson, Matthew B.; Morgan, Chelsea; Courson, Mark; Campbell, Mike. 2020. Fire Behavior Assessment Team: fire severity data. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0030
Point_of_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Washington Office Business Operations
Contact_Person: Alicia Reiner
Contact_Position: Fire Ecologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Suite 201, 160 Holdsworth Way UMASS
City: Amherst
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 01002
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 530-559-4860
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: alicia.reiner@usda.gov
Data_Set_Credit:
Funding for this project has been provided in the past by various intermittent sources including the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Project # 01C-2-1-08, USDA Forest Service Washington Office Fire and Aviation Management (WO-FAM), Pacific Southwest Region, Stanislaus National Forest, Sequoia National Forest, and Northern Research Station (NRS).
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Reiner, Alicia L.
Originator: Ewell, Carol M.
Originator: Fites-Kaufman, Josephine A.
Originator: Dailey, Scott N.
Originator: Noonan-Wright, Erin K.
Originator: Norman, Tiffany P.
Originator: Vaillant, Nicole M.
Originator: Dickinson, Matthew B.
Originator: Morgan, Chelsea
Originator: Courson, Mark
Originator: Campbell, Mike
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Fire Behavior Assessment Team: plot location data
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0056
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Reiner, Alicia L.
Originator: Ewell, Carol M.
Originator: Fites-Kaufman, Josephine A.
Originator: Dailey, Scott N.
Originator: Noonan-Wright, Erin K.
Originator: Norman, Tiffany P.
Originator: Vaillant, Nicole M.
Originator: Dickinson, Matthew B.
Originator: Morgan, Chelsea
Originator: Courson, Mark
Originator: Campbell, Mike
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Fire Behavior Assessment Team: pre- and post-fire tree data, raw and processed
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2018-0057
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Miesel, Jessica
Originator: Reiner, Alicia
Originator: Ewell, Carol
Originator: Maestrini, Bernardo
Originator: Dickinson, Matthew
Publication_Date: 2018
Title:
Quantifying changes in total and pyrongenic carbon stocks across fire severity gradients using active wildfire incidents
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: Frontiers in Earth Science
Issue_Identification: 6:1-21
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00041
Online_Linkage: https://www.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/pubs/57240
Cross_Reference:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Lydersen, Jamie M.
Originator: Collins, Brandon M.
Originator: Ewell, Carol M.
Originator: Reiner, Alicia L.
Originator: Fites, Jo Ann
Originator: Dow, Christopher B.
Originator: Gonzalez, Patrick
Originator: Saah, David S.
Originator: Battles, John J.
Publication_Date: 2014
Title:
Using field data to assess model predictions of surface and ground fuel consumption by wildfire in coniferous forests of California
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: journal article
Series_Information:
Series_Name: JRG Biogeosciences
Issue_Identification: 119(3): 223-235
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JG002475
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Data_Quality_Information:
Attribute_Accuracy:
Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
The severity ratings and the percent cover of each were estimated ocularly. Crew members making these observations were trained on methods, and utilized tools to improve the accuracy and precision of their estimates including notes on the descriptions of each severity level as well as transect tapes to aid in visualizing proportions of transects falling into each severity category.
Logical_Consistency_Report:
Note severity for several plots on the Rim fire was taken along the transects used for rate of spread sensors (ROS), and can be considered equivalent methods to other severity data, which were located along the fuels transects.

Over the years, some of the names assigned to the fires has varied. Sweatfarm is synonymous with GA Bay Complex and Big Turnaround Complex. The Tatanka complex is also synonymous with the Maple/Buffalo fires. The Bake and Oven fires were part of the Bar Complex and were sampled during the same tour as the Orleans Complex, so these data from these fires are often named BarOrleans. The Somes fire was part of the Orleans Complex and was sampled the same tour as the Bar Complex, so data from this fire is also often named BarOrleans.
Completeness_Report:
All available data are provided. There are some missing data, reasons are generally that time or safe conditions were not present. Also, data was not taken post-fire if plots did not burn, so unburned plots are not included in these data.

Note that in earlier years (2008 clover fire and earlier) only the 'plot' and one summary column for 'nps substrate severity' data occur in the dataset because 1) vegetation and overstory severity were not recorded and 2) intermediate data files with data on the percent of each severity level by transect were not located. For these fires, in general, the substrate severity dataset archived was pulled from the FBAT reports. (For almost every fire on which FBAT collected data, a report of summarized data is housed on the FBAT website: https://www.fs.fed.us/adaptivemanagement/projects_main_fbat.php.) Fires from 2011 and later included understory vegetation severity and substrate severity.
Lineage:
Methodology:
Methodology_Type: Field
Methodology_Description:
Fire severity was recorded along the fuels transect(s) (Reiner et al. 2019, https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2019-0010) of the plot to document the effect of fire on surface and understory vegetation. Belt transects 1-meter wide were visually estimated along the fuels transect(s) and the proportion of each transect falling into each fire severity category was ocularly estimated and recorded. The fire severity category descriptions were used as documented in the Fire Monitoring Handbook (USDOI National Park Service 2003). Please see table 28 on page 110 of this handbook for a detailed description of the various burn severity categories.

The 1-5 severity types (with 1 being high and 5 being low) burn severity scale used in the NPS Fire Monitoring Handbook were used in 2013 and earlier. In 2014 and afterward, the scale of 1-5 was flipped so that 5 represented very high severity and 1 represented unburned, to match public perception of what burn severity numbers should mean, however, the descriptions of the NPS Fire Monitoring categories were still used. All of the data included in this publication have been adjusted so they are provided in the same scale (where 1=unburned, ... 5=high severity). Starting in 2013 and through later fires, the amount of area that was 'not applicable' to a certain strata was also recorded (i.e. if 5% of the transect was rock, then that 5% was recorded as 'N/A' and was not counted in the summary of severity for that strata). This means that the average severity scores were calculated as weighted averages, meaning that the influence of each score on the average score was weighted by the sum of proportions of all categories less the ‘N/A’ category (Please see formula in average severity columns).


Below is a list of the fire names sorted by the year the fire occurred.

2006:
Ralston
Warm
BarOrleans (Bake and Oven Fires were part of the Bar Complex and were sampled during the same tour as the Orleans Complex, so data is often named BarOrleans. Somes Fire was part of the Orleans Complex and was sampled the same tour as the Bar Complex, so data is often named BarOrleans)

2007:
Antelope
Sweatfarm (also referred to as GA Bay Complex or Big Turnaround Complex)

2008:
Clover

2011:
Lion

2013:
Aspen
Rim

2014:
Beaver
French
King

2015:
Rough
Willow

2016:
Buffalo (also referred to as Tantanka or Tantanka Complex)
Cedar
Maple (also referred to as Tantanka or Tantanka Complex)

2017:
Pier
Schaeffer
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service
Publication_Date: 2003
Title:
Fire Monitoring Handbook
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: document
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Boise, ID
Publisher: Fire Management Program Center, National Interagency Fire Center
Other_Citation_Details:
274 p.
Online_Linkage: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1965/upload/fire-effects-monitoring-handbook.pdf
Methodology_Citation:
Citation_Information:
Originator: Reiner, Alicia L.
Originator: Ewell, Carol M.
Originator: Fites-Kaufman, Josephine A.
Originator: Dailey, Scott N.
Originator: Noonan-Wright, Erin K.
Originator: Norman, Tiffany P.
Originator: Vaillant, Nicole M.
Originator: Dickinson, Matthew B.
Originator: Morgan, Chelsea
Originator: Courson, Mark
Originator: Campbell, Mike
Publication_Date: 2019
Title:
Fire Behavior Assessment Team: surface and ground fuels, raw and processed
Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: spreadsheet
Publication_Information:
Publication_Place: Fort Collins, CO
Publisher: Forest Service Research Data Archive
Online_Linkage: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2019-0010
Process_Step:
Process_Description:
Data for each fire was recorded in a different spreadsheet. Summarized results were pulled from these files and combined into the data file provided in this data publication. Formulas are used in the “average substrate severity” and “average understory vegetation severity” columns, where we weighted the influence of each 1-5 score by the amount of cover present of that severity category to arrive at the average severity score for that strata relevant to the relative amounts of other severity levels present.
Process_Date: Unknown
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Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
Overview_Description:
Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
Below is a description of the files available in this publication.

DATA

\Data\FBAT_FireSeverity.csv: Comma-delimited ASCII text file containing both vegetation and substrate fire severity data. Severity categories are from the National Park Service (NPS) Fire Monitoring Handbook (2003, table 28 on page 110). Variables are defined below. (When cells are blank, the user can assume a value of zero, or an instance in which the data are not applicable [N/A].)

fire = name of fire (Antelope, Aspen, BarOrleans, Beaver, Buffalo, Cedar, Clover, French, King, Lion, Maple Fire, Pier, Ralston, Rim, Rough, Schaeffer, Sweatfarm, Warm, Willow)

plot = plot identifier

transect # = transect identifier or description (3 transects were used in later years and 1 transect was used in earlier years). The "General/overall plot" is where observers characterized the entire plot area in which all 3 transects were placed, which was not always taken.

rock/dirt to begin with = percent cover of the belt transect void of litter or surface fuels which would not contribute to fire severity

NPS substrate severity unburned (1) = percent cover of the belt transect where substrate was unburned

NPS substrate severity low (2) = percent cover of the belt transect where substrate burn severity was low

NPS substrate severity moderate (3) = percent cover of the belt transect where substrate burn severity was moderate

NPS substrate severity high (4) = percent cover of the belt transect where substrate burn severity was high

NPS substrate severity very high (5) = percent cover of the belt transect where substrate burn severity was very high

Average substrate severity = weighted calculation of average fire severity between 1 and 5


no veg there pre-fire = percent cover of the belt transect void of understory vegetation which would not contribute to fire severity

NPS understory vegetation severity unburned (1) = percent cover of the belt transect where vegetation was unburned

NPS understory vegetation severity low (2) = percent cover of the belt transect where vegetation burn severity was low

NPS understory vegetation severity moderate (3) = percent cover of the belt transect where vegetation burn severity was moderate

NPS understory vegetation severity high (4) = percent cover of the belt transect where vegetation burn severity was high

NPS understory vegetation severity very high (5) = percent cover of the belt transect where vegetation burn severity was very high

Average understory vegetation severity = weighted calculation of average fire severity between 1 and 5


NOTES = notes about data collection


SUPPLEMENTAL FILES

\Supplements\FBAT_Plot_Layout.pdf: Adobe Acrobat PDF/a file containing a diagram of the FBAT plot layout along with a brief list of key method changes throughout the years FBAT has taken data to present (2020). The diagram depicts (not to scale) the lengths and directions of the fuel transects in relation to the various fire behavior sensors installed on plots. The summary of methods changes highlights namely differences in subsampling, i.e. the number of fuel transects or rate of spread sensors used.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service. 2003. Fire Monitoring Handbook. Boise, ID: Fire Management Program Center, National Interagency Fire Center. 274 p. https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1965/upload/fire-effects-monitoring-handbook.pdf
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Distribution_Information:
Distributor:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Research and Development
Contact_Position: Research Data Archivist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: 240 West Prospect Road
City: Fort Collins
State_or_Province: CO
Postal_Code: 80526
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: see Contact Instructions
Contact Instructions: This contact information was current as of December 2020. For current information see Contact Us page on: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS.
Resource_Description: RDS-2020-0030
Distribution_Liability:
Metadata documents have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness. Unless otherwise stated, all data and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. However, neither the author, the Archive, nor any part of the federal government can assure the reliability or suitability of these data for a particular purpose. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed for a user's application of these data or related materials.

The metadata, data, or related materials may be updated without notification. If a user believes errors are present in the metadata, data or related materials, please use the information in (1) Identification Information: Point of Contact, (2) Metadata Reference: Metadata Contact, or (3) Distribution Information: Distributor to notify the author or the Archive of the issues.
Standard_Order_Process:
Digital_Form:
Digital_Transfer_Information:
Format_Name: ASCII
Format_Version_Number: see Format Specification
Format_Specification:
Comma-delimited ASCII text file
File_Decompression_Technique: Files zipped using 7-Zip 19.00
Digital_Transfer_Option:
Online_Option:
Computer_Contact_Information:
Network_Address:
Network_Resource_Name: https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2020-0030
Fees: None
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Metadata_Reference_Information:
Metadata_Date: 20201203
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Washington Office Business Operations
Contact_Person: Alicia Reiner
Contact_Position: Fire Ecologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
Address: Suite 201, 160 Holdsworth Way UMASS
City: Amherst
State_or_Province: MA
Postal_Code: 01002
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 530-559-4860
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: alicia.reiner@usda.gov
Metadata_Contact:
Contact_Information:
Contact_Organization_Primary:
Contact_Organization: USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station
Contact_Person: Matthew Dickinson
Contact_Position: Research Forest Ecologist
Contact_Address:
Address_Type: mailing and physical
City: Deleware
State_or_Province: OH
Postal_Code: 43015
Country: USA
Contact_Voice_Telephone: 641-556-2271
Contact_Electronic_Mail_Address: matthew.b.dickinson@usda.gov
Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Biological Data Profile of the Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001.1-1999
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