Flammability Parameters for Forest Fire Fuels for an Improved Risk Index

Do you feel like more and more forests go up in flames every year? You’re right! This is yet another devastating consequence of global warming: hotter and dryer conditions increase the risk of forest fires. Dr. Adam Cowlard’s postdoctoral research aims at anticipating the impact of fire outbreaks on forests and the environment in general. Using facilities at the University of Edinburgh, Dr. Adam will conduct laboratory experiments to study the flammability parameters of various fuels. He will focus on species that are representative of the forest floor where fires start and spread. Dr. Adam will also test construction materials to determine the impact of fire spread to urban areas. His results may lead to an improved definition of the traditional fire risk index used by fire fighters to minimize the devastation caused by wildland fires.