Distribution Of Fuel And Potential Fire Behavior Of Main Forest Types In Mountainous Areas Of Shandong Province

In this paper, eight main forest types in mountainous area of Shandong province were studied. Based on site factors(altitude, slope percent, slope aspect, et al) and stand factors(forest age, density, canopy cover, mean DBH, mean total height, et al), the typical forests were selected. The load capacity of the canopy fuel(dead fuel, live fuel) and ground fuel(litter layer, herbaceous layer and shrub layer) were investigated by standard branch method and sample method. We calculated the potential fire behavior indicators in different forest types by Behave Plus 5 fire behavior prediction system. We selected local area representative of conifers(Pinus densiflora forest), broad-leaved forest(Quercus acutissima forest), using SPSS 20.0 software respectively analyzed relationships between different surface fuel load and related affecting factors in Pinus densiflora forest and Quercus acutissima forest. The results of this study can provide theoretical reference for the prevention and rescue work of forest fires in mountainous areas of Shandong province. Specific research results are as follows(Note: ? :Pinus densiflora forest; ?: Pinus tabulaeformis forest; ?: Platycladus orientalis forest; ?: Quercus acutissima forest; ?: Robinia pseudoacacia forest; ?: Pinus densiflora- Quercus acutissima forest; ?: Pinus densiflora-Cunninghamia lanceolata forest;?: Pinus densiflora-Pinus taeda forest):(1) The total amount of surface fuel in each forest type was in the range of368.71~1801.03g/?. Maximum surface fuel load was 4.9 times of the minimum forest type,and that had large difference. The gross load of surface fuel was expressed as follows:?>?>?>?>?>?>?>?. In forest type ?, 1h and 100 h fuel loading both were the most.In forest ?, herb layer and 100 h fuel loading both were the most. In forest type ?, shrub layer fuel loading was the most.(2) The total amount of canopy fuel in each forest type was in the range of 177.40~600.69g/?. Maximum canopy fuel load was 3.4 times of the minimum forest type, and that has large difference. The gross load of canopy fuel was expressed as follows:?>?>?>?>?>?>?>?. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~1m canopy, and mainly distributing in 4~8m canopy. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~1m canopy, and mainly distributing in 3~9m canopy. And the total load ofcanopy dead fuel was large. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~2m canopy,and mainly distributing in 3~10m canopy. And in this forest, the amount of fuel load in each layer of the canopy was higher, and the total fuel load was large. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~4m canopy, and mainly distributing in 7~8m canopy. And the amount of fuel load in each layer of the canopy was lower, and the total fuel load was little. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~4m canopy, and mainly distributing over 4m canopy. The total load of canopy dead fuel was large, and the total load of canopy fuel was little. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~2m canopy, and mainly distributing in 5~8m canopy, and total load of canopy fuel was little. In forest type ?, every layer of canopy had fuel distribution, mainly distributed in 2m above the canopy, and the total fuel load was large. In forest type ?, there was no fuel distributing in 0~3m canopy, and mainly distributing over 6m canopy.(3) The amount of fuel load between the 8 kinds of forest stands was significantly different(P<0.05). It showed that the fire behavior of surface fire to the canopy was different.The ratio of transition to crown fire of different forest types in the mountainous area of Shandong province showed as below: ?(10.43)>?(1.79)>?(1.55)>?(0.79)>?(0.51)>?(0.06)>?(0.02)>?(0.01). Three forest types, can be transformed into the crown fire, respectively, forest type?,?,?. There was a great possibility of high intensity,high spread speed of the crown fire to occur in forest type ?. There was a great possibility of high intensity crown fire to occur in forest type ?and?. There was a great possibility of surface fire to occur in forest type ?, and a low possibility of crown fire to occur. Forest type? was prone to high intensity surface fire, and in the case of external sources of fire, would lead to higher strength of crown fire. Forest type ? was not easy to occur surface fire, but the canopy fuel load was large, and all layers of the canopy was closely connected, so in the case of external sources of fire, high intensity, high spread speed of the crown fire would occur in this forest. Forest type ? may produce a stronger intensity of surface fire, but it was not possible to occur crown fire. Forest type ? was not easy to happen surface fire, and even produced surface fire, it wouldn't translate into a crown fire basically.(4) In the coniferous forest(Pinus densiflora forest), 1h fuel loading of surface had significant relationship with the crown cover and litter sickness. 10 h and 100 h fuel loading had significant relationship with the crown cover, DBH, tree height, and litter sickness.Herbaceous layer fuel loading had significant relationship with density and DBH. Shrub layerfuel loading had significant relationship with density and crown cover. In broad leaved forest(Quercus acutissima forest), 1h fuel loading of surface had significant relationship with density, crown cover and litter sickness. 10 h and 100 h fuel loading had significant relationship with the crown cover, DBH, tree height, and litter sickness. Herbaceous layer fuel loading had significant relationship with canopy cover. Shrub layer fuel loading had significant relationship with density.