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MCFire model technical description

Informally Refereed

Abstract

MCFire is a computer program that simulates the occurrence and effects of wildfire on natural vegetation, as a submodel within the MC1 dynamic global vegetation model. This report is a technical description of the algorithms and parameter values used in MCFire, intended to encapsulate its design and features a higher level that is more conceptual than the level provided by the computer source code, so that programmers and users can better understand its features and limitations. Two primary sources of the MCFire algorithms are the National Fire-Danger Rating System and CONSUME 3.0. MC1 reads elevation, soil data, and climate data; simulates vegetation biochemistry and biogeography; and invokes MCFire to simulate fire and its effects. Unlike MC1, which runs on a monthly time step, MCFire simulates fire on a daily time step. MC1 and MCFire are typically run on a grid of independent cells, with neither model designed to simulate interaction among cells. MCFire estimates daily fire weather from monthly weather variables; calculates fuel load and moisture; determines the occurrence of fire; estimates fire behavior, including rate of spread, energy release, fireline intensity, crown scorching and area burned; and estimates fire effects on grass and tree mortality, biomass consumption, emissions, and black carbon production.

Keywords

dynamic global vegetation model, fire, MC1, MCFire, modeling, wildfire.

Citation

Conklin, David R.; Lenihan, James M.; Bachelet, Dominique; Neilson, Ronald P.; Kim, John B. 2016. MCFire model technical description. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-926. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 75 p.
Citations
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/52326