Factors Associated with the Severity of Intersecting Fires in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

A study on Yosemite National Park's Illilouette Creek basin reveals that reburn fires tend to increase in severity, with high-severity burns often converting vegetation to montane chaparral. The research found no significant link between fire return interval and initial fire severity but identified associations with the number of years since the last burn, burning index, and previous fire severity. These factors interact to influence reburn severity, offering insights for ecosystem management. The study analyzed 28 fires larger than 40 ha from 1973 to 2011, providing a data-driven understanding of fire dynamics in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

van Wagtendonk, J. W., van Wagtendonk, K. A., & Thode, A. E. (2012). Factors Associated with the Severity of Intersecting Fires in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. Fire Ecology, 8(1), 11–31. https://doi.org/10.4996/fireecology.0801011