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.
This media record is part of a series:
Forestcast
What started as a podcast produced by the Northern Research Station focusing on forest research within the Northeast and Midwest has now expanded to cover a wide range of topics from across the USDA Forest Service Research and Development branch. In each episode you'll hear stories, interviews, and special in-depth anthologies of the research that is studying, questioning, and solving some of today's most compelling issues. Visit the Forestcast website.