Review of formal methodologies for wind - slope correction of wildfire rate of spread

Abstract

The effects of wind and topographic slope are important considerations when determining the rate and direction of spread of wildfires. Accordingly, most models used to predict the direction and rate of spread contain components designed to account for these effects. Over the years, a variety of different approaches have been developed. In the present manuscript, we examine the various mathematical models employed to account for the effects of wind and slope at a formal level, making comparisons where appropriate. The methods reviewed include scalar methods, which ignore the directional nature of wind and slope effects, as well as methods in which the effects of wind and slope are combined in a vectorial manner. Both empirical and physical models for wind–slope correction are considered.