TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Is fire severity increasing in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA?
JO  - International journal of wildland fire
A1  - Hanson, Chad T.
A1  - Odion, Dennis C.
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
VL  - 23
IS  - 1
N2  - Research in the Sierra Nevada range of California, USA, has provided conflicting results about current trends of high-severity fire. Previous studies have used only a portion of available fire severity data, or considered only a portion of the Sierra Nevada. Our goal was to investigate whether a trend in fire severity is occurring in Sierra Nevada conifer forests currently, using satellite imagery. We analysed all available fire severity data, 1984-2010, over the whole ecoregion and found no trend in proportion, area or patch size of high-severity fire. The rate of high-severity fire has been lower since 1984 than the estimated historical rate. Responses of fire behaviour to climate change and fire suppression may be more complex than assumed. A better understanding of spatiotemporal patterns in fire regimes is needed to predict future fire regimes and their biological effects. Mechanisms underlying the lack of an expected climate- and time since fire-related trend in high-severity fire need to be identified to help calibrate projections of future fire. The effects of climate change on high-severity fire extent may remain small compared with fire suppression. Management could shift from a focus on reducing extent or severity of fire in wildlands to protecting human communities from fire.<p/>
LA  - en
SN  - 1049-8001
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF13016
ID  - ref1
ER  -