Descriptions & Disclaimers

As designed, CBI is illustrated as continuous index of severity, ranging between 0.0 and 3.0, not as a classification of severity categories. Classes of severity (e.g. low, medium, high) could be applied to CBI, but require more localized reference to the specific ecosystem. Generally, low and high severity conditions may be relatively distinctive and consistent, while mid-range CBI values often translate into variable and complex mixes of conditions that are often more difficult to summarize. (see link below for a general description of burn categories)

The photo series are organized under each region in two ways. One series groups plots in three ranges of CBI (0-1, 1-2, and 2-3) in order to view relatively similar plots together on the same page, and see the variety of fire effects that fall within each range. These groupings are not intended to infer any particular severity class; they are simply an equal numerical division of the full CBI range. The other series arranges the same plots in an abbreviated sequence of low to high CBI scores all on one page. This arrangement helps illustrate the gradient from very low to very high severity, and reflects the broad range of conditions possible from fire. In either series, click on thumbnail images for a larger photo and more detailed description of the plot.

Things to keep in mind while viewing the CBI photo series. Plot scores incorporate many fire-effect estimates, visually interpreted over the area of a 30-meter diameter plot. As such, a reasonable amount of inconsistency between scores on different plots can be expected, independent of the "true" level of severity. Experience and analysis has shown that as much as a 0.3 difference in total CBI is not unusual between similar plots, or between observers on the same plot. Thus, CBI provides a general but to some degree inexact scale of severity. One can expect to see a few plots, for example, that appear out of sequence based on slight differences in CBI scores when directly comparing two plot photos. Hopefully, those differences are within the 0.3 CBI residual error. On the other hand, keep in mind as well that it is very difficult to tell from a photo the overall composite severity observed throughout a plot. Single photos rarely, if ever, sufficiently capture the all the effects recorded under close inspection in the field. So, expect some perceived discrepancies in a photo series to be due to shortcomings in the photography.