Assessment of potential fire risk of Tomsk region mires

Abstract

The relevance of the research is determined by the need to assess the impact of drainage reclamation as a factor in the formation of a potential fire hazard. The main aim of the study is assessment of the potential fire hazard of typical drained mires of Tomsk region. The methods used in the study. Determination of the potential fire hazard is conducted using the point system evaluation of factors of fires within the mires on the basis of the field landscape studies carried out in 2014-2015. The scales of the potential fire hazard assessments are based on the pyrogenic characteristics of the mire geosystems components (plant layer dominant, mire water level, upper layer peat type), and the degree of anthropogenic load on them. Potential fire hazard of a territory is defined as a sum of points for each evaluation criterion. Results. Mires under investigation are characterized by medium and high potential fire hazard due to the low level of mires waters as a result of drainage reclamation, mire availability for local people as a place of hunting and gathering wild plants. Oligotrophic drained mires are characterized by greatest potential fire hazard due to the ease of ignition and flammability of pine, heather bushes, sphagnum moss and peat. Thus, the studies have revealed the most fire hazardous areas and may form the basis for predicting the risks of peat fires, for developing recommendations of the rational use and for reduction of fire hazard of anthropogenically disturbed mires of Tomsk region.

Keywords

• wildfire
• drainage melioration
• rating system
• landscape study
• anthropogenic impact