IIE Lunchtime Seminar - Dr Michael Gallagher (US Forest Service)

Estimating wildland fire behavior and effects across the New Jersey Pine Barrens from burn severity indices.

Abstract:

Shifting patterns of wildland fire activity threaten both human and ecological systems across the globe as the impacts of climate change continue to unfold. Collecting the fire behavior and effects data necessary to strengthen understandings of these patterns and adapt management is challenging, however, correlations between fire-altered reflectance patterns in vegetation, fire effects, and fire behavior can be used to make useful estimations. Using field and remote sensing approaches, fire behavior, effects, and burn severity data were collected at numerous prescribed fires and wildfires in the New Jersey Pinelands and demonstrate that easily assessed burn severity is well correlated with aspects of fire behavior and fire effects in this environment. Further, historic reflectance data collected over a 10 year period illustrates how fire size and seasonality constrain fire behavior and effects on this landscape and can be used to improve fire management tactics and guide mathematical modeling of fire behavior and effects.

Bio:

Michael Gallagher is a post-doc who works for the United States Forest Service in the Climate, Fire, and Carbon Cycle Sciences work unit.  Michael's research has focused on measuring of fire behavior and smoke, quantifying the fuel properties with remote sensing approaches, and estimating fire effects.  Michael’s research has primarily focused on the pine forests of the New Jersey Pinelands, and he has also participated prescribed and wildfire operations as a crewman in other landscapes.  Mike enjoys travel, wilderness backpacking, tinkering on automobiles, and growing Christmas trees.

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