Using Soil Moisture Information to Better Understand and Predict Wildfire Danger: A Symposium for Researchers and Fire Managers

This free online symposium will highlight the latest advances in using soil moisture information to better understand and predict wildfire danger. These recent discoveries are revealing the potential for soil moisture estimates from in situ monitoring stations, remote sensing, and models to improve fire danger predictions and to advance our understanding of fire behavior.

This interactive symposium will provide researchers and fire managers a unique opportunity to connect with others, to learn about ongoing research in this area, and to discuss ways to move forward with new research and end uses.

The symposium will run from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. CDT and from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. CDT on May 6, 2021. The event agenda, which will be posted shortly on Drought.gov, will feature invited talks, interactive breakout groups, and panel discussions. 

Registration is free. Please register by April 30, 2021.

Invited Speakers:

• John Bolten, Hydrological Sciences Branch, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
• J. D. Carlson, Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, Oklahoma State University
• Nicholas Coops, Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia
• W. Matt Jolly, Rocky Mountain Research Station Fire Sciences Laboratory, U.S. Forest Service
• Brian Magi, Geography and Earth Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• Brad Quayle, Geospatial Technology and Applications Center, U.S. Forest Service
• J. T. Reager, Terrestrial Hydrology Group, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Angela Rigden, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Harvard University

Sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center, with additional programmatic support provided by the U.S. Forest Service, the National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network, and NIDIS.

Organizing Committee:

• Matthew Levi, Crop and Soil Sciences, University of Georgia (co-chair)
• Tyson Ochsner, Plant and Soil Sciences, Oklahoma State University (co-chair)
• Stephanie Connolly, U.S. Forest Service, Office of Sustainability and Climate
• Marina Skumanich, NOAA/NIDIS, National Coordinated Soil Moisture Monitoring Network

For more information, please contact Matthew Levi (matthew.levi@uga.edu) or Tyson Ochsner (tyson.ochsner@okstate.edu).