Tools for the analysis and visualisation of distributions and vector fields in surface forest fires modelling

Abstract

The problem of computer modelling of the spread of surface forest fires in a two-dimensional formulation is herein considered. We describe the initial-boundary value problem in the form of a system of partial differential equations in the accepted approximation of the corresponding physical and chemical processes with refinements of the mutually agreed defining functions and the coefficients included in the equations. The Wolfram Mathematica computer algebra system is used as a platform for developing the computer model, performing calculations, and creating a database with the outcomes of computations. The results of numerical experiments investigating possible scenarios of how a fire zone spreads in different directions and its behaviour near the fuelbreaks are presented. Several qualitative features of the structure, the evolution of the temperature front, and the vector fields of the oxygen concentration gradient over the forest area are identified and illustrated with multidimensional graphics in the presence of areas of the low content of combustible materials of various shapes and sizes, including the demonstration of the influence of the equilibrium wind speed in the forest canopy. Possible variants of the fire front movement in the direction of the wind velocity and against it are identified and explained using representative examples.

Keywords

• surface forest fire
• mathematical model
• software
• fire front dynamics
• oxygen concentration gradient
• distribution of forest fuel
• wind speed
• wildfire