Medium-range Forecasting of the Extent of Forest Fire Hazard from Meteorological Conditions

M. Ya. Zdereva and M. V. Vinogradova

A new method of medium-range forecasting of a class of fire hazard is developed based on more precise accounting of accumulated moisture deficiency that is reflected by the Nesterov standard index. A physico-statistical interpretation of hydrodynamic forecasts of fields of meteorological variables is used for finding of prognostic values of the elements of the fire hazard index, using forecasts of maximum air temperature and precipitation in the Novosibirsk region from the earlier developed scheme. The initial set of variables contains data on the isobaric surface geopotential at 500 hPa, surface pressure, temperature at 850 hPa at the regular grid points at 2.52.5resolution and their derivatives. For formulation of forecasting equations, the algorithm of model self-organization is used with external criteria. The input of initial information, forecast issuance, displaying results and their delivery to customers based on GIS-technologies are totally automated.