LANDFIRE ›› Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q.	Why do the forest canopy maps have values of zero in some places?

Canopy characteristics refer only to the canopy of trees. Where there are tree canopies (in other words, existing vegetation types that are forest or woodland), LANDFIRE has attributed the grid with canopy characteristics. However, there will be no canopy characteristics in fuel types where the tree canopy is considered a part of the surface fuel and the surface fire behavior fuel model is chosen as such. This is because LANDFIRE assumes the potential burnable biomass in the tree canopy has been accounted for in the surface fuel model parameters. For example, young or short conifer stands where the trees are represented by a shrub type fuel model will not be attributed with canopy characteristics. These maps were developed for use in the FARSITE and FlamMap fire behavior applications (visit http://farsite.org/ for more information on these applications).

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