Physical and chemical properties of the foliage of 10 live wildland fuels

This data package contains data from over 3000 individual fuel elements collected as part of Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) project 11-1-4-19 "Determination of the effects of heating mechanisms and moisture content on ignition of live fuels." Data were collected each month during one of two one-year periods. Species collected from the chaparral ecosystem near Riverside, California were manzanita (2013-2014), ceanothus (2013-2014), and chamise (2012-2013). Interior western species collected in Montana included Douglas-fir (2013-2014) and lodgepole pine (2012-2013); sagebrush (2012-2013) and Gambel oak (2013-2014) were collected in Utah. Southern species collected in Florida in 2013-2014 were fetterbush, gallberry and sand pine. Species were characterized as broadleaf (manzanita, ceanothus, Gambel oak, fetterbush, gallberry) and needle (chamise, sagebrush, Douglas-fir, sand pine, lodgepole pine). Broadleaf samples consisted of whole leaves; needle samples consisted of a small length of branch with the foliage attached. Although sagebrush foliage is comprised of leaves rather than needles, the sagebrush samples were characterized as needle samples because the leaves are so small. Measurements include moisture content, relative moisture content, apparent density, length, width, needle length, stem diameter, leaf thickness, leaf surface area, fresh mass, volatiles content, fixed carbon content, ash content and lipid content.
The data presented here describe physical and chemical characteristics of the 10 species used in JFSP project 11-1-4-9. There were five objectives for this project. The first was to determine how heat fluxes produced by convection and thermal radiation, individually and together, influence mass loss in moist live fuels prior to ignition. Secondly, to determine experimentally if thermal radiation alone is sufficient for ignition of live fuels or if an additional source of heat (coil, hot convection gases) is necessary to ignite the pyrolyzates. Thirdly, to determine through computer simulation of ignition if thermal radiation alone is sufficient or if an additional source of heat (hot convection gases from a flame) is necessary to ignite the pyrolyzates. The fourth objective was to expand species tested in JFSP project 10-1-08-6 “Linking photosynthesis and combustion characteristics in live fuels: The role of soluble carbohydrates in fuel preheating” to include important shrub species. Lastly, to determine if results of the tests vary over the year as fuel moisture changes within living plants.
Original metadata date was 07/21/2016. Minor metadata updates on 12/16/2016.