1. The Effect of Wind Speed on Wildfires
Group 4
Alex Dickey
Sam Heck
Tess Rinaldo
Michael Neuder

2. Testable Question
How does wind speed affect the rate at which fire travels?
Source:

3. Context: Colorado Wildfires
Last Chance Fire: Burned over 45k acres
High Park Fire: Burned over 87,250 acres
Flagstaff Fire: Burned 2,400 Households
Waldo Canyon: 32,000 evacuated
Little Sand Fire: 22,400 acres burned 
Black Forest Fire: 14,280 acres burned

4. Context: Effects of Wildfires
These six fires occurred in the past 3 years
Causing extreme environmental damage
Mud slides
Destruction of wildlife habitat
Population displacement
Loss of life
Property damage
Affected water quality
Waldo Canyon: Lost reservoir due to sedimentation

5. Context: Prevention
This experiment will lead to more effective prevention methods for wildfires
Predict rate of fire spreading
Based on terrain and weather
Increased response efficiency
Notify responders faster
Better prediction of high risk areas
Based on terrain and weather data from previous fires
More effective response methods
Applying fire retardant to predicted area

6. Hypothesis
If we increase the wind speed acting upon a fire at different gradients, then the fire will spread fastest with high wind speeds at an uphill slope because wind will supply oxygen to the fire and heat rises.

7. Proposed Investigation
We will build upon a study conducted by the USDA Forest Service
Studied effects of terrain slope on fire spread
We will be using an identical setup with additions to test for wind speed

8. Apparatus 1 x 3 meter adjustable tray Shredded aspen bark
Electric coil beneath bark for ignition
Large fan with adjustable speeds
Anemometer

9. Apparatus

10. Procedure Five Gradients Four wind speeds -45, -25, 0, 25, 45 degrees
0, 15, 30, 60 Kilometers per hour
Three trial per combination of windspeed and gradient
Speed measured in seconds

11. Sample Data Table

12. Bibliography
Auburn University. (2005, March 8). Weather elements that affect fire behavior. Retrieved from PFMT Fire website:
Bonsor, K. (2001, May 29). How wildfires work. Retrieved from
DHSEM. (2013, July 8). Colorado Wildfire Report: July 8. Retrieved from Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website:
Stoner, N. (2012, September 12). Wildfires impact water resources in Colorado. Retrieved from 
U.S. USDA Forest Service. (2007). Influence of slope on fire spread rate (Research Report No. RMRS-P-46CD) (B. W. Butler, W. R. Anderson, & E. A. Catchpole, Authors). Retrieved from rmrs_p046_075_082.pdf