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Idaho Geospatial Data Clearinghouse

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This data series contains 2868 temporal datasets.These data are climate model outputs that have been downscaled to 4-km spatial resolution using the Bias Corrected Statistical Downscaling (BCSD) method. Moore and Walden have modified the BCSD method described by Wood et al (2002), Long-range experimental hydrologic forecasting for the eastern United States. Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres 107: 4429-4443 and Salathe (2005), Downscaling simulations of future global climate with application to hydrologic modeling. International Journal of Climatology 25: 419-436. The modifications include a different interpolation scheme between GCM grid cells and a different approach to dealing with extreme values (Z-scores...
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This data series contains 540 temporal datasets. Wildfire adheres to meteorological enablers and drivers across a spectrum of timescales. However, a majority of downscaling methods are ill suited for wildfire application due the lack of daily timescales and variables such as humidity and winds that are important for fuel flammability and fire spread. Two statistical downscaling methods, the daily Bias-Corrected Spatial Downscaling (BCSD) and the Multivariate Adapted Constructed Analogs (MACA), that directly incorporate daily data were validated over the Western United States with reanalysis data. While both methods outperformed the null interpolation only method, MACA exhibited additional skill in temperature, humidity,...
Aspect was used as a surrogate to characterize areas that are relatively drier, therefor have lower live/dead fuel moistures. If the effects of vegetation are ignored, it was assumed that fuel moisture varies according to aspect. That is, with all else being equal, fuels are typically drier on southwesterly aspects, and moister on northeasterly aspects. Relative fuel moisture was assigned to 3 aspect classes : Azimuth (degrees) Relative Solar Radiation Relative Fuel Moisture 1 to 80; 351 to 360 low high Flat; 81 to 170; 261 to 350 moderate moderate 171 to 260 high low Excluding the effects of real-time weather, fire behavior is dependent upon the structure, composition, and arrangement of fuels; fuel moisture, and...
Slope steepness was used to reflect effects on relative fire behavior. It was assumed the steeper the slope, the higher the fire intensity, assuming other variables remain constant (weather; wind; structure, composition, and arrangement of fuels; fuel moisture, etc.). BehavePlus was used to model the relationship of fire intensity and slope. Slope Class Percent Slope Fire Intensity Rating 1 0-10% Low 2 10-30% Low 3 30-60% Moderate 4 >60% High These data were designed to characterize mid-scale patterns across Idaho of the the effects of slope on wildland fire intensity. They were developed specifically for use in characterizing relative wildland fire hazard which was then used to assess the risks of wildland...
At best, predicting surface and canopy fuel loads from mid-scale data is problematic at best. The structure, composition, and arrangement of fuels are dependent upon the disturbance history of any given stand. Disturbance history includes natural processes (e.g., fire, wind, insects, and pathogens), as well as anthropogenic processes (e.g., silvicultural treatments and grazing practices). The only available proxy to the disturbance history (and consequently fuel loadings) available at a mid-scale level is the current structure and composition of vegetation (e.g., cover type, canopy cover, and size class). Unfortunately, the current structure and composition of vegetation is a very poor predictor of stand history....
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