The Effect of the Amount of Rainfall on the Number of Unprescribed Fires in the Florida Everglades

Abstract

The Florida Everglades is one of the most unique National Parks that the United States has to offer. The large expanses of flat lands, numerous plant and animal species (comparable in numbers to Amazonian Rainforests), and unique scenery makes any trip down to southern Florida worthwhile. For decades, prescribed fires have been used to help clear out brush and promote growth in the Everglades. It is a highly refined process left to professionals. The problem ensues when a fire is created accidentally either by humans' carelessness or Mother Nature's lightening. Starting a fire depends on several climate factors, including rainfall. I hypothesize that there is a significant impact on the number ofunprescribed forest fires in the Florida Everglades National Park depending on the amount of rainfall the area received. Using an r squared correlation coefficient did not produce a strong relationship between the two variables, although further graphs using a double y axis did help to illustrate some type of connection. Also, the dry season, which is from November to April, was looked at and graphed for the data set as well, which helped with some outliers that existed in the wet season and transitional period months. There does seem to be a relationship between the number of prescribed fires and the amount of rainfall, but further statistical testing is needed to prove anything. Also, other factors could be added into the data, such as the drought index, plant moisture contents and temperature.