Mathematical Modeling of Steppe Fires
The chapter presents a mathematical model of the initiation and spread of the steppe fire. The mathematical model is based on the laws of mechanics of multiphase reacting media. The main physicochemical processes describing the drying, pyrolysis, and combustion of gaseous and condensed pyrolysis products are taken into account. As a result of the numerical solution, the distributions of the velocity, temperature, and concentration fields of the components of the gas and condensed phases were determined. The dependence of the rate of spread of the steppe fire on the main parameters of the state of vegetation cover and wind speed was studied. The mathematical model presented in the chapter can be used to predict the spread of steppe fires for various types of steppe vegetation and meteorological conditions, as well as for preventive measures.