These variations have been measured using fixed area plot sampling system, in which overstory and understory is inventoried and marked for further study. Age and growth measures has been performed on a subset of the overstory trees. Site quality has been evaluated for the growth potential based on existing site information. To characterize the fire severity and severity, data has been collected using a variety of methods depending on the fire scientist administering the controlled burn. Flame length during the burn is commonly used as an indication of intensity.
Fuel consumption is also a commonly used method for measuring severity.
Spikes have been driven flush with the top of the duff and the exposed length and distance to mineral soil measured after burning according to the method described by Beaufait et al. This has also been done surrounding individual trees to evaluate the smoldering effect from heavy duff accumulation around the base. With information from temperature-measuring systems such as these, it should be feasible to predict an association between the intensity of the fire, the amount of fuel consumed and the fire effects. By collaborating with fire scientists, I hope to get consistent measures of fire intensity to make such predictions. However, good growth is usually considered a sign of good vitality and correspondingly reduced growth a sign of decreased vitality.