Pacific Southwest

Title: Burning California Chaparral - An Exploratory Study of Some Common Shrubs and Their Combustion Characteristics

Author: Weise, David R.; Ward, Darold E., Paysen, Timothy E., Koonce, Andrea L.

Date: 1991

Source: Burning California Chaparral - An Exploratory Study of Some Common Shrubs and Their Combustion Characteristics. Int. J. Wildland Fire 1(3):153-158

Description: Abstract. Prescribed fire is a tool used to manage vegetation in southern California. The nature and quantity of gaseous and particulate emissions have not been described for California chaparral. A study examining carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), and particulate matter emissions from fuel beds constructed from common chaparral shrubs was initiated. Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), ceanothus (Ceanothus crassifolius),manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa), and scrub oak (Quercus dumosa) fuel beds were burned in December 1989, and March, May, and August, 1990. Gas and particulate matter samples were collected from 45 fires. Emission factors for CO2 and particulate matter were affected by species and month individually; month and species interacted and affected CO emission factors. Pearson's correlation coefficient and Kendall's tau indicated that emission factors for CO and particulate matter were inversely related to combustion efficiency.

Keywords: Prescribed burning; Smoke; Chaparral; Ceanothus crassifolius; Adenostoma fasciculatum; Arctostaphylos glandulosa; Quercus dumosa.

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Citation

Weise, David R.; Ward, Darold E., Paysen, Timothy E., Koonce, Andrea L.  1991.  Burning California Chaparral - An Exploratory Study of Some Common Shrubs and Their Combustion Characteristics.   Burning California Chaparral - An Exploratory Study of Some Common Shrubs and Their Combustion Characteristics. Int. J. Wildland Fire 1(3):153-158.