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Author(s):
Brent M. Pickett, Carl Isackson, Rebecca Wunder, Thomas H. Fletcher, Bret W. Butler, David R. Weise
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fuels
Fuel Descriptions
Ecosystem(s):
Montane dry mixed-conifer forest, Mountain shrubland/wooded draw, Sagebrush steppe

NRFSN number: 11434
FRAMES RCS number: 8275
Record updated:

Individual samples of high moisture fuels from the western and southern United States and humidified aspen excelsior were burned over a flat-flame burner at 987° ± 12°C and 10 ± 0.5 mol% O2. Time-dependent mass and temperature profiles of these samples were obtained and analysed. It was observed that significant amounts of moisture remained in the individual samples after ignition occurred. Temperature histories showed a plateau at 200°–300°C at the leaf perimeter rather than at 100°C, with a plateau of 140°C for the leaf interior. Implications are that classical combustion models should be altered to reflect the behaviour of moisture in high moisture (live) samples. Mass release rates were determined at ignition and maximum flame height; these appeared to vary due to surface area and perimeter, but no significant correlation was found for all species.

Citation

Pickett, Brent M.; Isackson, Carl; Wunder, Rebecca; Fletcher, Thomas H.; Butler, Bret W.; Weise, David R. 2010. Experimental measurements during combustion of moist individual foliage samples. International Journal of Wildland Fire. 19(2): 153-162.

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