FUELS AND FIRE BEHAVIOR DYNAMICS ON LARGE-SCALE SAVANNA FIRES IN KRUGER-NATIONAL-PARK, SOUTH-AFRICA

Biomass characterization and fire behavior documentation were carried out on two large (> 2000 ha) experimental fires conducted in arid sava nna fuels in Kruger National Park in September 1992. Prefire fuel load s, fuel consumption, spread rates, flame zone characteristics, and in- fire and perimeter wind field dynamics were measured in order to deter mine overall energy release rates for each fire. Convection column dyn amics were also measured in support of airborne trace gas and particul ate measurements. Energy release rates varied significantly between th e two fires, and this was strongly reflected in convection column deve lopment. The lower-intensity fire produced a weak, poorly defined smok e plume, while a well-developed column with a capping cumulus top deve loped during the higher intensity fire. Further experimental burning s tudies, in savannas with higher fuel loads, are recommended to further explore the fire behavior-convection column dynamics relationship inv estigated in this study.