Modeling fire interval data from the American southwest with the Weibull distribution

摘要: In this study, the Weibull distribution is tested as a possible model for fire interval data derived from dendrochronologically-dated scars four sites in American Southwest. Two- and three-parameter distributions were fit to sets, additional statistical descriptors based on improve our understanding of range variability presettlement regimes. The models failed provide improved fits versus more parsimonious two-parameter models, indicating shift parameter may be superfluous Southwestern Modal Interval (MOI) was superior overall measure central tendency, appears identify common underlying structure regimes independent habitat type environmental gradients. Unusually short long intervals identified by lower upper exceedance (LEI UEI) Maximum Hazard (MHI) hazard function. Model statistics nearly identical between two pairs that 260 kilometers distant differed topography, vegetation, land-use history. However, differences observed only 10 apart, suggesting influence local factors (e.g., topography substrate) over regional influences climate). Although helped quantify historical regimes, ecological interpretations parameters proved difficult.