Design of risk index maps as a tool to prevent forest fires in the northern coast of Galicia (NW Spain)

The thermochemical parameters: calorific values and flammability, elementary chemical composition and heavy metal contents during the seasons of the year for the different forest species which make up the woodland map of the northern coast of Galicia (Spain) are reported. These data, together with bioclimatic conditions of the zone, were used to elaborate energy maps of forest biomass. The different forest species were classified in terms of energy contents, resistance to wildfires, and forest fire risk indices. The resulting energy maps can be very useful to prevent and fight forest fires effectively. The main equipment used to carry out this research was a static bomb calorimeter, a standard epiradiator nominal constant power 500 W, an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and apparatus for elementary analyses. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.