The Effects of Climatic Variations on Peat Swamp Forest Condition and Peat Combustibility
A study on the effects of climatic variations on peat swamp forest condition and peat combustibility was conducted in peat swamp forest of Sungai Karang Forest Reserve, Tanjong Karang, Selangor, Malaysia. The objectives of the study were to determine: 1). Climatic variations in the study area, 2)...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
2002
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10101/1/FH_2002_8.pdf |
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| Summary: | A study on the effects of climatic variations on peat swamp forest condition
and peat combustibility was conducted in peat swamp forest of Sungai
Karang Forest Reserve, Tanjong Karang, Selangor, Malaysia. The objectives
of the study were to determine: 1). Climatic variations in the study area, 2).
The effects of climatic variations on peat swamp forest condition; 3). Peat
com bustibility and its influencing factors, and 4). The effects of forest fire on
peat swamp forest condition.
The study was conducted in compartment 127 during two periods, namely:
October 1999 to January 2000 and May 2000 to October 2000, while, the
study on forest fire effects was conducted in compartment 132 from October
1999 to January 2000.
Climatic water balance, drought occurrences analysis and drought index using
Keetch- Byram Drought Index (KBDI) were used to describe clim atic
variations. Investigation on peat swamp forest condition included peat
characteristics such as moisture content, pH, organic content, ash content.
calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and water level. Heat content and
combustion rate were measured to determine peat combustibility. All data
obtained were analysed statistically by using multivariate cluster analysis,
univariate and multiple regression.
The study defined dry season and wet season as a period when monthly
rainfall is similar or less than 125 mm and m ore than 125 mm respectively.
The area has two drought periods, namely: January, February, and March as
the first period and May to August as the second period. Statistically, the
season affected moisture content, bulk density, potassium, magnesium,
sodium and water level. By using weekly rainfall prediction, the critical peat
moisture content to fire is 355%.
The high stages of KBDI in 1999/2000 were observed twice, namely on 25
and 26 April 2000. KBDI can be used in predicting moisture content and
water level in the study area.
Based on the area burned, burning depth and ash color, forest fire occurred
on 9 August 1999 was a light intensity fire. The fire, however, caused the
decreasing of hydraulic conductivity and magnesium and the increasing of
potassium and sodium. |
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