@article{ref1,
title="Exploring three-dimensional coupled fire-atmosphere interactions downwind of wind-driven surface fires and their influence on backfires using the HIGRAD-FIRETEC model",
journal="International journal of wildland fire",
year="2011",
author="Dupuy, J.-l. and Linn, R. R. and Konovalov, V. and Pimont, F. and Vega, J. A. and Jiménez, E.",
volume="20",
number="6",
pages="734-750",
abstract="The obstruction of ambient winds and the possible existence of indrafts downwind of a wildfire are aspects of coupled fire-atmosphere interaction influencing the effectiveness of a backfiring operation. The fire-influenced winds behind a headfire as well as their influences on backfire spread are explored using the three-dimensional HIGRAD-FIRETEC model. Fires are simulated under weak to strong wind speeds and in shrubland and grassland fuel types. The importance of three-dimensionality in the simulation of such phenomena is demonstrated. Results suggest that when fire-atmosphere interaction is constrained to two-dimensions, the limitations of air moving through the head fire could lead to overestimation of downwind indrafts and effectiveness of backfiring. Three-dimensional simulations in surface fuels suggest that backfires benefit from the obstruction of ambient winds and potentially the existence of an indraft flow in only a limited range of environmental conditions. Simulations show that flows are most favourable when the wildfire is driven downslope by a weak wind and the backfire is ignited at bottom of the slope. Model simulations are compared with backfiring experiments conducted in a dense shrubland. Although this exercise encountered significant difficulties linked to the ambient winds data and their incorporation into the simulation, predictions and observations are in reasonable agreement.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1049-8001",
doi="10.1071/WF10035",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF10035"
}