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fire_index_haines

Computes the Haines fire index (aka: Lower Atmosphere Severity Index) from a sounding.

Available in version 6.4.0 and later.

Prototype

load "$NCARG_ROOT/lib/ncarg/nclscripts/csm/heat_stress.ncl"  ; This library is automatically loaded
                                                             ; from NCL V6.5.0 onward.
                                                             ; No need for user to explicitly load.

	function fire_index_haines (
		p   [*] : numeric,  
		t   [*] : numeric,  
		td  [*] : numeric,  
		opt [1] : logical   
	)

	return_val [3] :  float or double

Arguments

p

A one-dimensional array containing pressures (hPa).

t
td

One-dimensional arrays containing temperatures (degC) and dew point temperatures (degC), respectively.

opt

Currently not used. Set to False.

Return value

The return value is a one-dimensional array of length 3. Elements 0, 1, 2 pertain to low, mid and high elevation.

Description

See: Haines paper and Haines Index.

The Haines_Index is technically the "Lower Atmosphere Severity Index" ==> LASI. It consists of two parts:

  • (i) Stability Term: (Tpl - Tp2)
  • (ii) Moisture Term : (Tp1 - TDp1)

The Haines Index can range between 2 and 6. The drier and more unstable the lower atmosphere the higher the index. Let ROS mean 'Risk Of Spread'. Then a Haines Severity Index of

  • 2-3= a very low ROS
  • 4= low ROS
  • 5= moderate ROS, and
  • 6= high ROS

The Climate Analysis Center uses the low-level Haines for the Coastal and Midlands zones, and the mid-level Haines for the Upstate zones.

The Haines Index is intended to be used all over the United States it is adaptable for three elevation regimes: Low Elevation, Middle Elevation and High Elevation. [See http://www.k3jae.com/wxHaines.php]

  • Low Elevation is for fires occurring at or very near sea level.
  • Middle Elevation is for fires burning in the 1000-3000 foot elevation range.
  • High Elevation is intended for fires burning above 3000 feet elevation.

Examples

     ; PRESSURE (MB; hPa)
       p  =(/ 1008.,1000.,950.,900.,850.,800.,750.,700.,650.,600., \
               550.,500.,450.,400.,350.,300.,250.,200., \
               175.,150.,125.,100., 80., 70., 60., 50., \
                40., 30., 25., 20. /)
     
     ; TEMPERATURE (C)
       t  =(/  29.3,28.1,23.5,20.9,18.4,15.9,13.1,10.1, 6.7, 3.1,   \
               -0.5,-4.5,-9.0,-14.8,-21.5,-29.7,-40.0,-52.4,   \
              -59.2,-66.5,-74.1,-78.5,-76.0,-71.6,-66.7,-61.3, \
              -56.3,-51.7,-50.7,-47.5 /)
     
     ; MIXING RATIO (g/kg)
       q  =(/  20.38,19.03,16.14,13.71,11.56,9.80,8.33,6.75,6.06,5.07, \
                3.88, 3.29, 2.39, 1.70,1.00,0.60,0.20,0.00,0.00, \
                0.00, 0.00, 0.00, 0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00,0.00, \
                0.00, 0.00 /)
     
     ; Haines Index (HI) requires dew point temperature so it must be derived
     
                                   ; Change units to those requires by 'relhum' function
       q    = q/1000.              ; (kg/kg)
       t    = t+273.15             ; K
     
       rh   = relhum(t, q, p*100)  ; p*100 => mb => Pa
       td   = dewtemp_trh(t,rh)    ; dew pt temperature [K]
       td   = td-273.15            ; [C] ; return to units required by 'fire_haines_index'
       t    = t -273.15            ; [C]
     
      ;print(p+"  "+t+"  "+q+"  "+rh+"   "+td)
     
     ; assign metadata
     
     ; units [ @ ]
       p@units = "hPa"
       t@units = "degC"
     
     ; name dimensions [ ! ]
       p!0     = "p"
       t!0     = "p"
       td!0    = "p"
     
     ; assign coordinate values [ & ] to named dimensions
       p&p     = p
       t&p     = p
       td&p    = p
     
     ; look at data
     ; printVarSummary(p)
     ; printVarSummary(t)
     ; printVarSummary(td)
     
       printMinMax(t,0)
     
       HI   = fire_index_haines(p, t, td, False)
       print(HI)
A sample output 

     Variable: HI
     Type: float
     Total Size: 12 bytes
                 3 values
     Number of Dimensions: 1
     Dimensions and sizes:	[elevation | 3]
     Coordinates: 
     Number Of Attributes: 5
       long_name :	Haines Index
       reference :	http://www.nwas.org/digest/papers/1988/Vol13-Issue2-May1988/Pg23-Haines.pdf
       info :	Lower Atmosphere Severity Index (LASI)
       elevation :	( Low, Medium, High )
       details :	http://www.erh.noaa.gov/cae/haines.htm

     (0)	 3
     (1)	 3
     (2)	 2