This study analyzed a combination of field-based understory meteorology and fuel moisture data with terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) and traditional forest inventory data to develop new knowledge about relationships between forest structure, microclimate, and dead fuel moisture in USA northern conifer forests that can inform fire operations planning and decision support.
The Hot-Dry-Windy Index (HDWI) harnesses the basic science of how weather affects fire behavior. The index answers the question: “What physical weather conditions make fires difficult to manage?” The HDWI approach has two main advantages. First, hot, dry, & windy conditions can be applied to different locations & time periods. Second, these conditions can often be reliably forecasted several days in advance. As a result, HDWI helps anticipate periods when fires may become di
