NOAA/WDS Paleoclimatology - Arabas fire data from Lava Cast Forest - IMPD USLCF001

We examined the fire history of 11 forest isolates surrounded by lava flows (kipukas) in central Oregon to determine historical differences in fire regimes between kipukas and the surrounding forest, and the role of spatial and environmental variables in fire occurrence. Tree-ring analysis and statistical comparisons show that historical agency records underestimate the number of fires based on the incidence of fire scars. Fires occurred more frequently on kipukas, were typically smaller, and were predominantly lightning-initiated. Except for three widespread fires, fires on kipukas and in the surrounding forest were largely asynchronous. The mean fire-return interval (MFRI) in the surrounding forest decreased following Euro-American settlement and increased on the kipukas with spot-fire removal. This suggests either that forest management and fire exclusion in the surrounding forest decreased fire spread to the kipukas, or that most fires originated on the kipukas. MFRI correlates strongly with distance to the nearest kipuka and a distance-weighted isolation index. The number of fires correlates with elevation change and distance to the nearest kipuka. Fire in naturally fragmented landscapes is influenced by the spatial arrangement of patches, environmental conditions, and human activities. Reconstructing fire histories from forest isolates in the context of their mainland counterparts may have methodological advantages and theoretical implications for forested landscapes characterized by human-imposed insularity.

本归档古气候学（Paleoclimatology）研究数据集可从美国国家海洋和大气管理局（National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA）国家环境信息中心（National Centers for Environmental Information, NCEI）获取，该中心隶属于世界古气候学数据服务（World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, WDS）。该研究对应的NCEI分类类型为火灾（Fire）。数据集涵盖美国俄勒冈州境内的火灾历史与树木年轮（tree ring）相关参数。数据覆盖的时间区间为距今800年至距今-51年（日历年份以before present, BP为基准）。如需了解参数与研究地点的详细信息，请查阅元数据（metadata）。使用本数据集时，请引用该研究。