Models
Models
A description of the models currently in SEMIP.
SEMIP currently covers:
- fire information systems,
- fuel loading maps,
- fire consumption models (both total consumption and time rate of consumption),
- fire emissions models,
- plume rise models, and
- dispersion models.
A list of the systems and models currently identified for analysis by SEMIP are listed by category below. A list of the datasets used by and stored by SEMIP can be found in the Data section, and the test cases and protocols can be found in the Test Cases section.
Fire Information Systems
A number of fire reporting systems are available. Each has different temporal and spatial resolutions and coverage, and produces different types of fire information. Because any further calculation depends on the input fire data used, SEMIP also cross compares the fire information available from a number of common systems.
- INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM 209 REPORTS
- HAZARD MAPPING SYSTEM (HMS) FIRE DETECTS
- SMARTFIRE RECONCILED FIRE INFORMATION SYSTEM
Fuel Loading Maps
A variety of fuel loading maps exist for the U.S. Each has different spatial resolutions and reporting fields.
- FUEL CHARACTERISTIC CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (FCCS) FUEL MAP
- HARDY ET AL MAP
- LANDFIRE FUELS MAP
- NATIONAL FIRE DANGER RATING SYSTEM (NFDRS) MAP
Fire Consumption Models
Fire consumption models calculate amount of fuel consumed based on fire, fuels, and weather information. Some models only calculate the total amount of consumption, while others compute both the total amount of consumption by fire phase (active flaming, smoldering, etc...) as well as an hourly rate. For this reason we split consumption into Total Consumption and Time Rate of Consumption. Additionally, a number of standard time profile curves exist for distributing total consumption over time.
Total Consumption
- FIRST ORDER FIRE EFFECTS MODEL (FOFEM)
- CONSUME
- EMISSIONS PRODUCTION MODEL (EPM)
- FIRE EMISSIONS PRODUCTION SIMULATOR (FEPS)
more info
Time Rate of Consumption
- FIRST ORDER FIRE EFFECTS MODEL (FOFEM)
- EMISSIONS PRODUCTION MODEL (EPM)
- FIRE EMISSIONS PRODUCTION SIMULATOR (FEPS)
- WRAP TIME PROFILE
Fire Emissions Models
After fire consumption by time is calculated, speciated emissions are computed by allocating the various fire phase consumption into component emissions through emissions factors. A number of different emissions factors are in use. Note that we include heat released as one "emissions species."
- FIRST ORDER FIRE EFFECTS MODEL (FOFEM)
- EMISSIONS PRODUCTION MODEL (EPM)
- FIRE EMISSIONS PRODUCTION SIMULATOR (FEPS)
Plume Rise Models
Plume rise models take the calculated emissions and, using the heat released and meteorological stability information, creates a vertical profile of smoke injection.
- FIRE EMISSIONS PRODUCTION SIMULATOR (FEPS)
- WRAP
Dispersion Models
After the fire emissions have been distributed vertically above (or nearby) the fire location, dispersion models transport the smoke downwind. Some can do simple chemical transformations or allow for deposition as well as advection/diffusion. Dispersion models often use very different schemes including "particle" and "puff" methodologies, as well as hybrid systems that combine features of both. There are also full atmospheric chemistry models (e.g. CMAQ), but these are currently outside the scope of the initial SEMIP comparisons.
- CALPUFF
- HYSPLIT
SEMIP Comparisons at Output Levels
The above modeling steps and models produce a number of different outputs. SEMIP cross-compares these and any other submitted model outputs on a number of defined output variables such as TOTAL CONSUMPTION, VERTICAL PLUME DISTRIBUTION, GROUND CONCENTRATIONS, and others.
