FIRESUM (Fire Succession Model)

DESCRIPTION

The Fire Succession Model (FIRESUM) is a deterministic ecosystem process model that simulates long-term stand dynamics of forests in the Northern Rocky Mountains. The model simulates tree regeneration, growth and mortality given stochastic fire events. In the model, individual trees are grown deterministically using an annual time step. Tree growth is affected by light, water and nutrients. Fuel loadings are calculated annually and fire is simulated by reducing litter, duff, and down woody fuels. The model simulates forest stand dynamics.

The model requires species parameters as input as well as site parameters, such as weather, elevation, and soil characteristics. Output includes the average basal area for each tree species simulated, fuel values of forest components and fire behavior statistics.

SCALE AND AREAS OF APPLICATION

SURVEY COMMENTS

No survey respondents mentioned using FIRESUM.

BENEFITS (PROS)

COSTS (CONS)

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