Dr Jason Sharples ‘Understanding Extreme Bushfire Development’
You are here
Thursday, 20 February 2020 - 12:30pm
Thursday 20 February 12.30 pm
Dr Jason Sharples ‘Understanding Extreme Bushfire Development’
Jason, from the University of New South Wales, will highlight the role that dynamic fire propagation plays in driving ‘deep flaming’ events, which appear to be critical in triggering the ‘violent pyroconvection’ characteristic of extreme bushfires, as well as recent work aimed at predicting extreme bushfire occurrences.
Abstract
Extreme bushfires consistently result in loss of life and property, widespread environmental damage and further impact the cultural, economic and political stability of communities. Understanding the factors that combine to produce these significant bushfire events is the focus of sustained research efforts around the globe. Much of this research has concentrated on atmospheric conditions, but given that these events actually manifest as coupled fire-atmosphere events, it is also important to consider the contributions of the fire itself. In this presentation I will discuss some recent research findings into extreme bushfire development. In particular, I will highlight the role that dynamic fire propagation plays in driving 'deep flaming' events, which appear to be critical in triggering the 'violent pyroconvection' characteristic of extreme bushfires. I will also discuss recent work aimed at predicting extreme bushfire occurrences.
Biography
Dr Jason Sharples, Associate Professor of Applied Mathematics, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Canberra.
Jason works as part of the Applied and Industrial Mathematics Group and the Computational Science Initiative. Jason is currently Lead Chief Investigator on two ARC Discovery Indigenous Projects and Project Leader for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC’s ‘Spot Fire’ Project. These projects all consider various aspects of extreme and dynamic bushfire propagation, the development of large conflagrations and bushfire risk management.
