BGS Hosted Metadata
Fuel moisture and micro-scale combustion calorimetry data for Calluna vulgaris across the UK, April-May 2023
This dataset contains fuel moisture contents and flammability metrics for samples of common heather (Calluna vulgaris) collected across the United Kingdom between 15th April and 20th May 2023. A total of 830 samples were used to measure fuel moisture content (FMC), and 130 of these were also subjected to calorimetric analysis. FMC data were obtained gravimetrically by weighing samples before and after drying. Flammability data were obtained by micro-scale combustion calorimetry, which measures heat release related to flaming combustion of a fuel material. The flammability metrics recorded were the heat release capacity (HRC), peak heat release rate (PHRR), total heat release (THR), and temperature at maximum rate of decomposition (Tmax). These data will contribute to the development of models of fuel moisture variability in UK fuels, and thus refine inputs for fire behaviour modelling, which can inform land management strategies in relation to wildfire risk. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2
Simple
- Date (Publication)
- 2026-03-02
- Citation identifier
- https://catalogue.ceh.ac.uk/id/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2
- Citation identifier
- doi: / 10.5285/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2
- Other citation details
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Ivison, K., Little, K., Belcher, C.M., Crawford, A.J., Davidson, S.J., Graham, L.J., Kettridge, N. (2026). Fuel moisture and micro-scale combustion calorimetry data for Calluna vulgaris across the UK, April-May 2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre 10.5285/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2
- Point of contact
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role University of Exeter
Alastair Crawford
Point of contact University of Birmingham
Ivison, K.
Author University of Birmingham
Little, K.
Author University of Exeter
Belcher, C.M.
Author University of Exeter
Crawford, A.J.
Author Université du Québec à Montréal
Davidson, S.J.
Author University of Birmingham
Graham, L.J.
Author University of Birmingham
Kettridge, N.
Author University of Birmingham
EMAIL NOT PROVIDED
Owner NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre Publisher NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre Custodian
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GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
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Environmental Monitoring Facilities
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- Keywords
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- Environmental risk
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wildfire
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fuel moisture
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flammability
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citizen science
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heathland
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United Kingdom
- Access constraints
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
- no limitations
- Use constraints
- Other restrictions
- Use constraints
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
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If you reuse this data, you should cite: Ivison, K., Little, K., Belcher, C.M., Crawford, A.J., Davidson, S.J., Graham, L.J., Kettridge, N. (2026). Fuel moisture and micro-scale combustion calorimetry data for Calluna vulgaris across the UK, April-May 2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre https://doi.org/10.5285/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2
- Spatial representation type
- Text, table
- Language
- English
- Character set
- UTF8
- Topic category
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- Biota
- Environment
- Begin date
- 2023-04-01
- End date
- 2023-05-31
))
- Unique resource identifier
- OSGB 1936 / British National Grid
- Distribution format
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Name Version Comma-separated values (CSV)
- Distributor contact
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
Distributor
- OnLine resource
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Protocol Linkage Name https://data-package.ceh.ac.uk/data/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2 Download the data
- OnLine resource
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Protocol Linkage Name https://data-package.ceh.ac.uk/sd/64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2.zip Supporting information
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
- Other
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dataset
Conformance result
- Title
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Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
- Date (Publication)
- 2010-12-08
- Statement
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Volunteers were requested to collect samples on 19 April 2023, or as close as possible to this date, based on forecasts of dry, fire-prone weather for the UK. At each sampling location, the approximate height of the heather canopy was measured, and live C. vulgaris was clipped from c. 10 plants along a 20 m transect. Samples from each transect were combined in an aluminium tin, sealed with tape to prevent moisture loss, and sent for analysis by priority mail. Samples for fuel moisture analysis only (n = 700) were weighed, dried at 80°C for 48 h, and then reweighed. Samples for calorimetric analysis (n = 130) were analysed using an FAA Micro Calorimeter (Fire Testing Technology Ltd, East Grinstead, UK). Two subsamples of 6.2‒31.1 mg were analysed from each sample. The heating rate of the pyrolysis chamber was set to 3°C s-1, the maximum pyrolysis temperature to 750°C, and the combustion chamber temperature to 900°C. The N₂ flow rate was set to 80 cm³ min-1 and the O₂ flow rate to 20 cm³ min-1. For each flammability metric (HRC, PHRR, THR and Tmax) the mean of the tests for the two subsamples was taken. The remainder of each sample was used to obtain FMC: the sample was weighed, then dried at 50 °C until it reached constant weight. Fuel moisture was defined as: Fuel Moisture = ((wet mass - dry mass) / dry mass) × 100
Metadata
- File identifier
- 64d340d7-8f19-49f9-90e0-83d4013e76c2 XML
- Metadata language
- English
- Character set
- 8859 Part 1
- Hierarchy level
- Dataset
- Hierarchy level name
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dataset
- Date stamp
- 2026-03-03T15:08:28
- Metadata standard name
- UK GEMINI
- Metadata standard version
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2.3
- Metadata author
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Organisation name Individual name Electronic mail address Role NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre Point of contact
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