Simulation Comparisons of Particulate Emissions from Fires under Marginal and Critical Conditions

Using a particulate emissions model developed for FIRETEC, we explore differences in particle emission profiles between high-intensity fires under critical conditions and low-intensity fires under marginal conditions. Simulations were performed in a chaparral shrubland and a coniferous pine forest r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Atmosphere 2019-11, Vol.10 (11), p.704
Main Authors: Josephson, Alexander J., Castaño, Daniel, Holmes, Marlin J., Linn, Rodman R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
CFD Simulation
Chaparral
Coniferous forests
Earth Sciences
Emission analysis
Emissions
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Fires
Forest & brush fires
Lofting
Moisture
Moisture content
Particle emission
Particle size
Particulate Emissions
Prescribed fire
Sensitivity analysis
Simulation
Soot Formation
Trends
Wildfires
Wind
Winds
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Summary:Using a particulate emissions model developed for FIRETEC, we explore differences in particle emission profiles between high-intensity fires under critical conditions and low-intensity fires under marginal conditions. Simulations were performed in a chaparral shrubland and a coniferous pine forest representative of the southeast United States. In each case, simulations were carried out under marginal and critical fire conditions. Marginal fire conditions include high moisture levels and low winds, often desired for prescribed fires as these conditions produce a low-intensity burn with slower spread rates. Critical fire conditions include low moisture levels and high winds, which easily lead to uncontrollable wildfires which produce a high-intensity burn with faster spread rates. These simulations’ resultant particle emission profiles show critical fire conditions generate larger particle emission factors, higher total mass emissions, and a higher lofting potential of particles into the atmosphere when compared against marginal fire conditions but similar particle size distrubtions. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the emissions model was performed to evaluate key parameters which govern particle emission factor and particle size.
ISSN:2073-4433
2073-4433
DOI:10.3390/atmos10110704