Quantifying the fire regime distributions for severity in Yosemite National Park, California, USA

A comprehensive analysis of fire severity distributions across 19 distinct fire-regime types in Yosemite National Park reveals significant variations in burn severity, providing critical insights into current fire dynamics compared to historical patterns. Using Landsat Thematic Mapper data, researchers mapped burn severity for 99 fires spanning 20 years and over 97,000 hectares, classifying these distributions within four vegetation zones: foothill shrub and woodland, lower montane forest, upper montane forest, and subalpine forest. This study establishes a framework to compare contemporary fire regimes with historical conditions, offering valuable data for researchers and land managers to assess changes in fire behavior and inform future management strategies.

Thode, A. E., van Wagtendonk, J. W., Miller, J. D., & Quinn, J. F. (2011). Quantifying the fire regime distributions for severity in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 20(2), 223–239. https://doi.org/10.1071/wf09060