BY: Danielle Ruoff Taylor Roney Rennosuke Hankawa Molly Merkert Bethany Weaver Ashley Knapp

Testable Question In Colorado, which of the three most popular tree breeds would burn the fastest and hottest? Blue Spruce, Silver Maple, or Quaking Aspen. A study for early detection Help predict path of wildfire by speed and heat Aim is to make a program to track and predict the behavior This should be funded for less destruction of environments and earlier evacuation

Hypothesis If a forest fire is started in Colorado, then the heavily populated areas with Blue Spruce trees would produce the most heat compared to some common tree types in Colorado (Refer to the Common Tree Types in Colorado list). This is because the Blue Spruce trees commonly have very low lying branches and range from 70 to 115 feet tall. This allows for surface and crown fires to easily spread between trees. Our preliminary study was on a very small scale so the results are not as accurate as they could be on a larger scale. In the preliminary study, the aspen appeared to burn fast and hotter, but the spruce would be different in a larger study.

Supporting Work Blue SpruceSilver MapleQuaking Aspen Trial 1 Speed (Seconds)135±0.5121±0.575±0.5 Temp (˚F)500±0.5750±0.5900±0.5 Weight (grams)3.59± ± ±0.05 Notes * matches: doesn't light * Handheld: Smoke and little burning * Bunsen Burner: hard to light * Orange Flame * Will not burn on its own * faint smoke * * whistling and cackling * lots of sparks (most) * independently flaming * faint Sparks * Catches weak flame independently * faint smoke Trial 2 Speed (seconds)92±0.5106±0.577±0.5 Temp (˚F)854±0.5 higher than 1000 Weight (grams)1.13± ± ±0.05 Notes * Orange Flame * Will not burn on its own * faint smoke * sparks * Burns independently fairly well sparks * independent burning * popping noise * faint smoke * still smoking 3 minutes later

Proposed Investigation We can learn behavior of wood with single tree species In a larger study, study an entire forest with different types of trees Although preliminary study is singular types; can be bettered by looking at speed and temperature rise of a culmination. Independent variable: ratio of the species of trees Dependent variable: temperature of the fire and length of time the fire burns

Proposed Investigation cont. First, gather woods of different species in CO Most imperative factor is samples from CO and reflect actual population of CO Maybe random samples Burn woods in large scale experiment with high temperature thermometers and accurate measuring of time Using time and temperature as destructibility, categorized in order This data will be used for a database

Proposed Investigation cont. A meta-analytical investigation Categorize the forests by percentage of species and a database for destructibility of the fire with factors: heat and time The Conclusion In numerical indications Input being percentage of species and output being heat and speed Database completed, a program can be completed Will input the percentage of species and theoretical heat and hypothetical speed forest fire for early detection Indication for how major the fire can become Fire services will be able to prioritize People/businesses are able to evaluate their own dangers for their area in danger

Example Data Table (for Experiment) Species of TreesTime for Wood to Burn Out (probably in minutes) Average Temperature (in degrees Celsius)

Example Data Table (for Meta- Analysis) Forest Fire Name PlaceDate(s)DurationSize of Affecte d Area Type of Fire (includ ing Temper ature) Percent age of Species of Trees Other Disting uishing Notes Note This data table is still a very rough one. The "Type of Fire" is supposed to be the measure of destruction. However, unlike in an experiment, measuring the temperature of a forest fire while it is occurring is unviable. At the same time, one forest fire will probably have different temperatures in different areas. Thus, the temperature recorded in "Type of Fire" will probably be an estimate. So, unless another quantitative method can be found, this column will remain qualitative, arbitrarily quantitative, and/or estimative. This is why the experiment above is important, for it gives a comparison of the individual species of trees with the percentage presented in the meta-analysis. Also, other possible variables like wind, dryness/humidity, forest density, etc. can be somewhat ruled out by a growing list of forest fires, the "Other Distinguishing Notes" and the experiment providing a basic idea of the expected results.

Bibliography Colorado's Major Tree Species. Colorado State University, n.d. Web. 7 Mar Cottrell, William H., Jr. The Book of Fire. Missoula: Mountain Press, Print. Firewood Ratings. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Feb