Afire: Fire Weather, Wind & Smoke

From whipping winds that fan flames to swirling smoke that obscures visibility, fire weather is a complex phenomenon. In Episode 4 of "Afire," hear from three meteorologists at the intersection of the intricate relationships between fire weather, wind, and smoke. 

Brian Potter explains how large-scale atmospheric patterns, like extended dry periods before a wildfire, may contribute to the development of extreme fire events. Natalie Wagenbrenner discusses WindNinja, a high-resolution wind model that simulates local winds in complex terrain. And Scott Goodrick investigates the turbulent dynamics of small‑scale surface fires, as well as superfog—dense smoke-enhanced fog that can severely reduce visibility. 

Related Research:

• National Prescribed Fire Program Review (2022)
• Investigating the Turbulent Dynamics of Small-Scale Surface Fires (2022)
• Microscale Wind Modeling: WindNinja for Fire Management (2021)
• Downscaling Surface Wind Predictions from Numerical Weather Prediction Models in Complex Terrain with a Mass-Consistent Wind Model (2016)
• A Comparison of Three Approaches for Simulating Fine-Scale Surface Winds in Support of Wildland Fire Management (Part 1) (Part 2) (2014)
• Smoke 101 & Differences Between Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Smoke in the Western U.S. (2024)
• Fire Behaviour and Smoke Modelling: Model Improvement and Measurement Needs for Next-Generation Smoke Research and Forecasting Systems (2019)
• Laboratory and Numerical Modeling of the Formation of Superfog from Wildland Fires (2019)
• On the Formation and Persistence of Superfog in Woodland Smoke (2009)

Scientists:

• Brian Potter, Research Meteorologist, Seattle, Washington
• Natalie Wagenbrenner, Research Meteorologist, Missoula, Montana
• Scott Goodrick, Research Meteorologist, Athens, Georgia

Forestcast is an official USDA Forest Service podcast, and is produced by USDA Forest Service Research and Development.

Want more information? Visit us at https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/products/multimedia/forestcast

Questions or ideas for the show? Contact Jon at jonathan.yales@usda.gov