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PeatFire: an agent-based model to simulate fire ignition and spreading in a tropical peatland ecosystem
International Journal of Wildland Fire, Volume: 30, Issue: 2, Start page: 71
Swansea University Author: Allan Spessa
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DOI (Published version): 10.1071/wf19213
Abstract
The increased frequency and spread of tropical peat fires over the last two decades have attracted global attention because they cause significant environmental and health impacts at local to global scales. To understand the relative importance of key factors controlling tropical peatland burning ev...
| Published in: | International Journal of Wildland Fire |
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| ISSN: | 1049-8001 |
| Published: |
CSIRO Publishing
2020
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57537 |
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| Abstract: |
The increased frequency and spread of tropical peat fires over the last two decades have attracted global attention because they cause significant environmental and health impacts at local to global scales. To understand the relative importance of key factors controlling tropical peatland burning events, we developed PeatFire, an agent-based model simulating the interaction between human-induced ignitions, fire and peat characteristics. The model describes (1) above- and belowground fires, which spread independently but interact with each other; (2) above- and belowground biomass; and (3) the watertable determining peat dryness and susceptibility to fire. We applied PeatFire to a region in South Sumatra that has experienced profound natural rainforest loss due to peat fires. Sensitivity analysis of the model suggests that fire sizes depend mostly on watertable depth, peat-dry-index and number of dry days before ignition. Using pattern-oriented modelling, these factors were parameterised so that the model output matches spatiotemporal fire patterns observed in the study region in 2015. Our results emphasise the risk of a sudden shift from moderate fire occurrence to complete burning and highlight the importance of local context to peatland regulation, which should consider both biophysical and socioeconomic factors and strategies for peatland fire management. |
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| Keywords: |
agent-based model, burnt area, degraded habitat, Indonesia, peatland, tropical peat fire, watertable depth, wildlife reserve |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
This study forms part of the Towards a Fire Early Warning System for Indonesia (ToFEWSI) project (Oct 2017–Oct 2021), which is funded by the UK’s National Environment Research Council – Newton Fund Project (NE/P014801/1), Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP) and the Indonesian Science Fund (principal investigators: Allan Spessa and Muhammad Ali Imron). |
| Issue: |
2 |
| Start Page: |
71 |