Keetch-Byram Drought Index

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The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), created by John Keetch and George Byram in 1968 for the United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service, outlines mathematical models for predicting the likelihood of wildfire based on soil moisture and other conditions related to drought.

KBDI is a soil/duff drought index that ranges from 0 (no drought) to 800 (extreme drought) and is based on the soil capacity in 8 inches of water. The depth of soil required to hold 8 inches of moisture varies. A prolonged drought (high KBDI) influences fire intensity largely because fuels have a lower moisture content.

[edit] See also

Palmer Drought Index

[edit] References

Keetch, John J; Byram, George. 1968. "A drought index for forest fire control." Res. Paper SE-38. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station. 32 pp. http://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/viewpub.jsp?index=40