Publication Abstracts

Tanpipat et al. 2023

Tanpipat, V., K. Manomaiphiboon, R.D. Field, W.J. deGroot, P. Nhuchaiya, N. Jaroonrattanapak, C. Buaniam, and J. Yodcum, 2023: An operational fire danger rating system for Thailand and Lower Mekong Region: Development, utilization, and experiences. In Vegetation Fires and Pollution in Asia. K.P. Vadrevu, T. Ohara, and C. Justice, Eds., Springer, pp. 575-588, doi:10.1007/978-3-031-29916-2_34.

This study describes development, utilization, and experiences of implementing a fire danger rating forecast system for Thailand and Upper ASEAN, or the Lower Mekong River Region, which is referred to as "FR-Mek (short for Fire Danger Rating System for Lower Mekong River Region)". It was developed within the widely used framework of the Canadian Fire Danger Rating System which has been adopted in equatorial Southeast Asia. Following its development, FR-MeK has been transferred to and officially operated since 2015 by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and since 2020 by Royal Forest Department. The system uses two fire danger indices: the FFMC (Fine Fuel Moisture Code) and FWI (Fire Weather Index), representing how easy a fire would be ignited and how dangerous an ignited fire would be in terms of spread and intensity respectively. To adapt the system for the regional fire environment, fires over Upper ASEAN or the Lower Mekong River Region were studied using Terra/Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and their relationship with fire weather was investigated. The FFMC and FWI were calibrated to four fire danger levels from low to high. A suite of computer programs were developed as FR-Mek for a daily forecast operation capable of forecasting fire danger at grid resolutions of 3-9 km over six days (current day and next five days). The daily FWI value is used to adjust FWI signs placed in front of 305 forest fire suppression stations throughout Thailand. Beyond this direct public data sharing, more intensive operational use is still evolving. During the 2021 fire season, its use has increased and become a part of daily operation of forest fire, open burning and smoke haze control and management for 17 northern provinces of Thailand.

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BibTeX Citation

@inbook{ta01200v,
  author={Tanpipat, V. and Manomaiphiboon, K. and Field, R. D. and deGroot, W. J. and Nhuchaiya, P. and Jaroonrattanapak, N. and Buaniam, C. and Yodcum, J.},
  editor={Vadrevu, K. P. and Ohara, T. and Justice, C.},
  title={An operational fire danger rating system for Thailand and Lower Mekong Region: Development, utilization, and experiences},
  booktitle={Vegetation Fires and Pollution in Asia},
  year={2023},
  pages={575--588},
  publisher={Springer},
  doi={10.1007/978-3-031-29916-2_34},
}

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RIS Citation

TY  - CHAP
ID  - ta01200v
AU  - Tanpipat, V.
AU  - Manomaiphiboon, K.
AU  - Field, R. D.
AU  - deGroot, W. J.
AU  - Nhuchaiya, P.
AU  - Jaroonrattanapak, N.
AU  - Buaniam, C.
AU  - Yodcum, J.
ED  - Vadrevu, K. P.
ED  - Ohara, T.
ED  - Justice, C.
PY  - 2023
TI  - An operational fire danger rating system for Thailand and Lower Mekong Region: Development, utilization, and experiences
BT  - Vegetation Fires and Pollution in Asia
SP  - 575
EP  - 588
DO  - 10.1007/978-3-031-29916-2_34
PB  - Springer
ER  -

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