A NEW METHOD TO ESTIMATE FUEL SURFACE AREA-TO-VOLUME RATIO USING WATER IMMERSION

Citation
Pm. Fernandes et Fc. Rego, A NEW METHOD TO ESTIMATE FUEL SURFACE AREA-TO-VOLUME RATIO USING WATER IMMERSION, International journal of wildland fire, 8(2), 1998, pp. 59-66
Citations number
49
Categorie Soggetti
Forestry
ISSN journal
10498001
Volume
8
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
59 - 66
Database
ISI
SICI code
1049-8001(1998)8:2<59:ANMTEF>2.0.ZU;2-C
Abstract
A fast, simple, low cost and general technique for estimating fuel sur face area-to-volume ratio was developed. It requires the knowledge of particle density, the determination of fuel weight before and after im mersion in water, and theoretical thickness of the adsorbed water pell icle that is assumed constant. Estimates by the technique were consist ent and in good agreement with published surface area-to-volume ratios for the same fuels obtained through commonly used methods, and its pe rformance is judged appropriate for the current fire behaviour modelin g needs. The water immersion technique was applied to five common shru b species in Portugal. Limitations and possibilities for improvement o f the newly developed technique are discussed.