James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

GE3407:03

Fire Science and Management for Northern Australia *

39 hours lectures, 33 hours practicals. Semester 2.

Staff: Dr J Luly, Dr R Jaycock, Dr R Thwaites.

This subject will introduce a systematic study of fire in a context relevant to northern Australian savanna environments. Content will include: study of fire as a phenomenon; climatology and meteorology of fire; fire behaviour; modelling fire behaviour; biological implications of fire; historical perspectives on fire and fire regimes; managing fire – Indigenous perspectives; managing fire – main stream perspectives; fire suppression and mitigation.

Learning Objectives:

1. develop an appreciation of the role of fire in northern Australian ecosystems;
2. build skills in the measurement and analysis of environmental variables affecting fire behaviour in northern Australian environments;
3. introduce theoretical and practical aspects of using fire as a management tool in northern Australian environments;
4. introduce techniques of fire suppression and management in the northern Australian setting.

Assessment by examination (40%); field/practical report (40%); scholarly essay (20%).