Klinger, R.C., Underwood, E.C., McKinley, R., and Brooks, M.L., 2022, Fire regimes in the Mojave Desert (1972-2010): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P99YGHSJ.
Summary
This U.S. Geological Survey data release consists of 3 raster datasets representing estimates of probability of ignition (ProbIgnitPredict.tif), fire frequency (FrequencyPredictRF.tif), and burn severity (dNBRPredictRF.tif) in the Mojave Desert from 1984 to 2010. The data include: (1) A shapefile of the Mojave Desert that was used as our study area boundary (MojaveEcoregion_TNS_UTM83.shp). The original shapefile was obtained from NatureServe in 2009; (2) Three Tagged-Interchange Format (TIF) raster datasets representing probability of ignition, fire frequency, and burn severity. Resolution equals 30 meters, projection equals UTM Zone 11N. These data support the following publication: Klinger, R., Underwood, E.C., McKinley, R. and [...]
Summary
This U.S. Geological Survey data release consists of 3 raster datasets representing estimates of probability of ignition (ProbIgnitPredict.tif), fire frequency (FrequencyPredictRF.tif), and burn severity (dNBRPredictRF.tif) in the Mojave Desert from 1984 to 2010. The data include: (1) A shapefile of the Mojave Desert that was used as our study area boundary (MojaveEcoregion_TNS_UTM83.shp). The original shapefile was obtained from NatureServe in 2009; (2) Three Tagged-Interchange Format (TIF) raster datasets representing probability of ignition, fire frequency, and burn severity. Resolution equals 30 meters, projection equals UTM Zone 11N.
These data support the following publication:
Klinger, R., Underwood, E.C., McKinley, R. and Brooks, M.L., 2021. Contrasting Geographic Patterns of Ignition Probability and Burn Severity in the Mojave Desert. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9, p.593167. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.593167.
Questions pertaining to the intended use of, or assistance with understanding limitations or interpretation of these data are to be directed to the individuals/organization listed in the Point of Contact section. Unless otherwise stated, all data, metadata and related materials are considered to satisfy the quality standards relative to the purpose for which the data were collected. Although these data and associated metadata have been reviewed for accuracy and completeness and approved for release by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Purpose
The extent and frequency of fire has increased in many arid systems over the last century, with a large proportion of area in some regions undergoing transitions to novel conditions. Portions of the Mojave Desert in southwestern North America have undergone such transitions, most often from woody to herbaceous-dominated systems. These transitions have often been attributed to the proliferation of invasive annual grasses that promote more frequent fire, but recent evidence indicates that transitions can also occur independent of fire frequency if burn severity is high. In addition, high probability of ignition (i.e. potentially high fire frequency) and high burn severity may not always be geographically related. Therefore, our goals were to: (1) map potential burn severity, fire frequency, and probability of ignition across the Mojave; and, (2) evaluate spatial association among predicted burn severity, fire frequency and probability of ignition. Besides the large geographic extent, the data are representative of environmental conditions in the Mojave. We are unaware of any dataset on these four taxa in the Mojave Desert with such large geographic and environmental extents. Thus, these data would be very suitable for numerous types of analyses, especially those related to niches, range shifts, and potential ecosystem transformations.
