Assessing the Relationship between Forest Structure and Fire Severity on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon

High fire severity on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon leads to forests with lower canopy cover and increased surface roughness, while more frequent low-severity fires result in denser canopies and smoother terrain. A three-component structure classification—incorporating canopy cover, vertical fuel distribution, and surface roughness—proved a stronger predictor of fire impacts than mean canopy height alone. Using airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, researchers analyzed post-fire forest structure across an elevation gradient, revealing that fire severity introduces heterogeneity in vegetation types. This study provides a novel dataset linking fire behavior to structural changes, offering critical insights for fire management and conservation efforts at Grand Canyon National Park.

Hoff, V., Rowell, E., Teske, C., Queen, L., & Wallace, T. (2019). Assessing the Relationship between Forest Structure and Fire Severity on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Fire, 2(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/fire2010010