A geomorphometric model to determine topographic parameters controlling wildfires occurrence in tropical dry forests

Abstract

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are commonly affected by wildfires, especially during the dry season and drought periods. Many studies have identified ecological, pedological, and climatic variables that control fires ignition as well as other anthropogenic causes. Nonetheless, the intrinsic geomorphometric variables that shape the different TDF landscapes have been underestimated. Hence, we used a Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to study the occurrence of wildfires in a TDF on a TDF located in a protected area at northwest Costa Rica. The influences of nine topographic parameters (TP) were tested on the occurrence of wildfires during a period of 23-years (1997–2020). The statistical analysis demonstrate that Aspect (compass direction that a terrain surface faces) and Wind Exposition (areas degree exposed to wind) are the most influential TP to explain the wildfires occurrence in TDF. The results may be valuable for the understanding and assessment of geomorphometric variables controlling wildfires occurrence in TDF. Therefore, highlighting the importance of fire risk management in ecosystems comprising almost the half of the total of tropical forests proves relevant.