ERA5-FWI-SN dataset

This dataset provides fine-scale gridded data of the daily components of the Forest Fire Weather Index (FWI) System, that best reflect physical processes, and also includes additional fire season-related indices. Designed for retrospective monitoring (6-days lag), the dataset enables daily tracking of fire danger across Canada.

The dataset includes the six daily FWI components, namely the Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC), the Duff Moisture Code (DMC), the Drought Code (DC), the Initial Spread Index (ISI), the Buildup Index (BUI) and the Fire Weather Index (FWI), as well as the Daily Severity Rating (DSR), the cumulated DSR (DSRc), the fire season onset (Onset), the end of fire season (WinterOnset) and the fire season length (FSL) indices.

Data, spanning from 1950 to the present year and covering the land surfaces of Canada, are provided in NetCDF and GeoTIFF file formats for each year, at a spatial resolution of 0.25° (approximatively 31 km). These data were calculated using ERA5 reanalysis hourly data. FWI components were computed using the solar noon (SN) method, which accounts for local insolation conditions. ​This method reduces discontinuities in indices value across longitudes-an issue that arises when the standard local noon method is used- particularly at higher spatial resolutions.

Overall, this dataset aims to improve our collective capacity to anticipate and respond to the spatiotemporal variability in fire danger conditions that may trigger severe and widespread forest fires across Canada.