A model for fire simulation in landscapes

Abstract

In this work we present a model for numerical simulation of fire in heterogeneous landscapes. The final goal is to develope a computer code wich allows fire simulation in nature. The code will be designed to make predictions about single fire events, and should be calibrated by comparison with historical events. In this paper, a simplified two dimensional mathematical model is assumed. A two steps chemical mechanism is simplified. The model take into account the effects of wind direction and wind velocity (forced convection) as well as convection phenomena due to temperature gradients in vertical direction. A numerical solution of the former equations is presented using a finite difference method together with the study of stability. These numerical results are contrasted with ones obtained using an adaptive finite element method using refinement-derefinement techniques (see [1] and [2]).