Analysis of the year 2008 fires in the forest lands of the Muğla Regional Forest Service by using drought indices

Abstract

Muğla district is among the most risky areas of Turkey in terms of forest fires. Muğla Regional Forest Service meets the great economic losses and high amounts of vegetation at forest fires occurred within its boundaries. In this study, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Aridity Index and the Erinç’s Drought Index values were calculated and climate types were determined by using the long-term meteorological data of the Mugla meteorological station. In addition, to assess the year 2008 forest fires, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index were calculated by using daily data of the year 2008, and capture rates for forest fires were determined. Some results reached in the study can be summarized as follows:
(i) Arid climate conditions are seen during the period between the months of the July and the September according to the UNCCD aridity index in Muğla.
(ii) On the other hand, arid conditions are found between the months of the June and  the September in the Erinç’s drought index.
(iii) The Keetch-Byram drought index is over the value of 600 during the period between the days of 27.06.2008 and 19.11.2008.
(iv) The Keetch-Byram drought index caught the 69% of the 348 forest fires occurred in Muğla at the certain level of fire occurrence.
(v) The Keetch-Byram drought index results calculated for the year of 2008 indicated much stronger relationships between the events of forest fires and the weather and climate conditions in comparison with the UNCCD and Erinç aridity indices.