Fire-Risk Assessment in Northern Greece Using a Modified Fosberg Fire-Weather Index That Includes Forest Coverage. (18th May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kambezidis, Harry D.; Kalliampakos, George K.
• Other Names: Nastos Panagiotis Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: International journal of atmospheric sciences. Volume 2016(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-05-18
• Subjects: Atmospheric physics -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry; Atmospheric physics; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/8108691
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2314-4122

Abstract

Abstract : The spatial distribution of the monthly mean values for various climatological parameters in Northern Greece is derived. The corresponding data come from measurements at several meteorological stations located in Central Macedonia, Eastern Macedonia, and Thrace (CM/EMT) area in the period 1975–1997. The collected data concern high temperature and low relative humidity, as well as local forest coverage, and are utilized for the calculation of a modified Fosberg Fire-Weather Index in order to estimate the fire risk over Northern Greece due to the local weather under critical conditions. As a result, monthly fire-risk maps of the CM/EMT area for the months of May to October are derived for the first time by applying sophisticated analytical geospatial tools and methods. Furthermore, fire events corresponding to the same region and period are added to the derived maps for comparison and for a better evaluation of the method. The resulting correspondence of the predicted fire risk to the local wind-speed behavior and forest abundance demonstrates the need of the necessary precaution measures to limit the future danger levels from fire events.