Test Case 8: Naches Rx

Description

A set of prescribed burn plots done over a 2 week period, located in Washington State.

The Naches Ranger District is located in Washington State on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, near Yakima.  In the spring of 2007, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest (OWNF) - Naches Ranger District accomplished multiple day landscape level prescribed burns during the spring burning program.  The district proposed burning up to 5,500 acres in 4 distinct units.  In the end 3,512 acres were accomplished in 2 units, short of the goal but still far more acres than had been accomplished in previous years.  Typically the Naches district accomplishes about 1,500-2,000 acres during the spring burning window. The burns were carried out on 15 days between April 24 and May 25.  On most days less than 200 acres were burned; however  over 1300 acres were blackened on May 19.  Measured fuel loadings ranged from 12 tons/acre to 19 tons per acre.

Purpose

To examine the capability of the models to simulate smoke generated under a near optimum amount of input data.

Analysis

Model-to-model and model-to-observations.

Time and space scales

• Washington State, 4km resolution
• April 24 - May 25, 2007, hourly model output
  

Model runs

Output levels

• TOTAL CONSUMPTION through GROUND CONCENTRATIONS

Input data

• Fire information: location, total size, duration
• Fuels: type, moisture
• Meteorological data

Intermeditate initialization data

None available.

Guidelines

• No restrictions unless comparing with observational data;  then model must be independent of observational data.

Status

Meteorological and other inputs being collected.  Some runs done by AirFire to date.

Notes