Comparing selected fire regime condition class (FRCC) and LANDFIRE vegetation model results with tree-ring data

Tyson L. Swetnam, Peter M. Brown

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Fire Regime Condition Class (FRCC) has been developed as a nationally consistent interagency method in the US to assess degree of departure between historical and current fire regimes and vegetation structural conditions across differing vegetation types. Historical and existing vegetation map data also are being developed for the nationwide LANDFIRE project to aid in FRCC assessments. Here, we compare selected FRCC and LANDFIRE vegetation characteristics derived from simulation modeling with similar characteristics reconstructed from tree-ring data collected from 11 forested sites in Utah. Reconstructed reference conditions based on trees present in 1880 compared with reference conditions modeled by the Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool for individual Biophysical Settings (BpS) used in FRCC and LANDFIRE assessments showed significance relationships for ponderosa pine, aspen, and mixed-conifer BpS but not for sprucefir, pionjuniper, or lodgepole pine BpS. LANDFIRE map data were found to be ∼58% accurate for BpS and ∼60% accurate for existing vegetation types. Results suggest that limited sampling of age-to-size relationships by different species may be needed to help refine reference condition definitions used in FRCC assessments, and that more empirical data are needed to better parameterize FRCC vegetation models in especially low-frequency fire types.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-13
Number of pages13
JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

Keywords

  • reference conditions
  • successional classes
  • Vegetation Dynamics Development Tool (VDDT)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry
  • Ecology

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