Data from: Evaluation of a hand-held moisture meter for timely dead fine fuel moisture measurement
Data files
Jun 26, 2026 version files 22.08 KB
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Moisture-meter_data_file.xlsx
20.16 KB
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README.md
1.92 KB
Abstract
A total of ninety fuel samples were measured, with thirty samples for each fuel type. Oven-dry fuel moisture was used as the standard; the differences and relationships between the moisture meter and oven-dry measurements were analyzed. Fuel moisture index (FMI) was calculated as an alternative to assess moisture meter measurements, and the relationship between FMI and moisture meter measurements was examined. The measurement error and range for each fuel type were reported. No significant differences were detected between the moisture meter and oven-dry measurements for leaf litter fuel, but were found for both 1-hr and 10-hr woody fuel. Significant positive relationships between the two measurements were found for the full dataset, 1-hour woody fuel, and 10-hour woody fuel. FMI did not show significant relationships with moisture meter measurements for litter fuel, 1-hour woody fuel, and 10-hour woody fuel. A significant linear relationship was found between oven-dry litter fuel moisture and FMI. The results suggested that the moisture meter has the capacity to provide reasonable, timely, and safe estimates of fine fuel moisture, but not precious estimation. This device can be used as a coarse indicator and provides a general estimation, making it a practical tool for fire management. The data is in Excel (.xlsx) format containing variables: fuel type (litter, 1-h woody fuel, 10-h woody fuel), air temperature (degree C), relative humidity, moisture meter fuel moisture measurements (%), sample weight before oven drying (g), sample weight after oven drying (g), water content in the sample (before Dry minus after Dry), fuel moisture content measured by oven dry method (%), difference between moisture meter and oven dry measurement (oven Dry - moisture meter, absolute difference between the two methods, and fuel moisture index.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.zs7h44jkw
Description of the data and file structure
Timely and accurate measurement of dead fine fuel moisture is of great importance for fire assessment and prescribed fire management; however, real-time field measurement techniques are currently limited. In this study, the accuracy of an electrical resistance wood moisture meter was evaluated to measure dead fine fuel moisture, including the fuel types of litter fuel, 1-hour and 10-hour woody fuels.
Files and variables
File: Moisture-meter_data_file.xlsx
Description: Excel file containing fuel moisture data for fine fuels, 1-hour fuels, and 10-hour fuels determined by oven dry methods and with the use of a portable electric moisture meter. Variables are also described in a second table in the same sheet of this file.
Variables
- type = fuel type, litter, 1-h woody fuel, 10-h woody fuel
- T_C = air temperature, degree C
- RH = relative humidity %
- MMpct = moisture meter fuel moisture measurements in percent
- beforeDry_g = sample weight before oven drying (g)
- afterDry_g = sample weight after oven drying (g)
- water = water content in the sample, beforeDry minus afterDry
- oven_m = fuel moisture content measured by oven dry method %
- dif = difference between moisture meter and oven dry measurement, ovenDry - moisture meter
- absolt_dif = absolute difference between the two methods
- FMI = fuel moisture index
Code/software
Excel spreadsheet software developed by Microsoft is required to view and access the data. The data is contained in an .xlsx file format, which is the default spreadsheet format used by Microsoft Excel 2007 and all later versions (including Excel 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365).
