Open-Source Fire Science

Pyregence

Publications & Reports

At the heart of Pyregence is a commitment to open, peer-reviewed science that drives innovation in wildfire forecasting, risk assessment, and climate resilience. Our researchers, developers, and collaborators are advancing the field through rigorous publications in top journals, conference presentations, white papers, and graduate research.The following Pyregence publication library highlights recent work across disciplines including:

Wildfire emissions & air quality impacts

Fire behavior modeling & remote sensing

Forest dynamics & climate-driven tree mortality

Fuel loading, burn severity, & smoldering processes

Cutting-edge simulation tools & decision support systems

Explore the collection to access full texts, datasets, and links to source materials. Whether you’re a scientist, practitioner, policymaker, or student, these resources offer insight into the evolving science of fire in a warming world. All publications listed are authored or co-authored by Pyregence team members and partners and reflect the collaborative ethos behind our open-source approach.

Publications & Reports

Collection by Year

2025

Publications & Reports

YearPaper TitleJournalAuthorsLink
2025Pirplo: a single-run method for calibrating wildland fire simulations like statistical modelsStochastic Environmental Research and Risk AssessmentValentin Waeselynck, Chris Lautenberger, and David SaahVIEW
2025Fire risk to structures in California’s Wildland-Urban InterfaceNature CommunicationsMaryam Zamanialaei, Daniel San Martin, Maria Theodori, Dwi Marhaendro Jati Purnomo, Ali Tohidi, Chris Lautenberger, Yiren Qin, Arnaud Trouve and Michael GollnerVIEW

2024

Publications & Reports

YearPaper TitleJournalAuthorsLINK
2024Integrated wildfire risk management: Measuring risk perceptions, simulating fire severity maps, and visualizing fire risk in the California Wildland-Urban InterfacePhD Dissertation – UC MercedSamrajya B. ThapaVIEW
2024Reconstructing modes of destruction in wildland–urban interface fires using a semi-physical level-set modeProceedings of the Combustion InstituteDwi M.J. Purnomo, Yiren Qin, Maria Theodori, Maryam Zamanialaei, Chris Lautenberger, Arnaud TrouvĆ©, and Michael GollnerVIEW
2024Snag dynamics and surface fuel loads in the Sierra Nevada: Predicting the impact of the 2012–2016 droughtForest Ecology and ManagementHudson Northrop, Jodi N. Axelson, Adrian J. Das, Nathan L. Stephenson, Emilio Vilanova, Scott L. Stephens, and John J. BattlesVIEW
2024A Framework for Conducting and Communicating Probabilistic Wildland Fire ForecastsFireJanice L. Coen, Gary W. Johnson, J. Shane Romsos, and David SaahVIEW

2023

Publications & Reports

YearPaper TitleJournalAuthorsLink
2023Use of a Satellite-derived Fire Tracking Database to Evaluate Fire Spread ModelsAGU Fall Meeting Conference AbstractsChen, Yang, James T. Randerson, Tianjia Liu, Gary Johnson, Chris Lautenberger, Jordan Combs, Valentin Waeselynck, Shane Romsos, Douglas C. Morton, and David S. SaahVIEW
2023Next-Generation Fire and Vegetation Modeling for A Hot and Dry FutureFederation of American ScientistsMatthew HurteauVIEW

2022

Publications & Reports

YearPaper TitleJournalAuthorsLINK
2022The Character and Changing Frequency of Extreme California Fire WeatherJournal of Geophysical Research - AtmosphereAndreas Prein, Janice Coen, and Abby JayeVIEW
2022Linking Pattern and Process in the Disturbance Ecology of Sierra Nevada Mixed Conifer ForestsPhD Dissertation – UC BerkeleyDaniel E. FosterVIEW
2022Drought Induced Snag Dynamics and Fuel Succession in the Sierra NevadaMaster’s Thesis – UC BerkeleyHudson NorthropVIEW
2022Wind Effects on Smoldering Behavior of Simulated Wildland FuelsCombustion Science and TechnologyJeanette Cobian-IƱiguez, Franz Richter, Luca Carmignani, Christina Liveretou, Hanyu Xiong, Scott Stephens, Mark Finney, Michael Gollner, and Carlos Fernandez-PelloVIEW
2022Mass fire behavior created by extensive tree mortality and high tree density not predicted by operational fire behavior models in the southern Sierra NevadaForest Ecology and ManagementScott L. Stephens, Alexis A. Bernala, Brandon M. Collins, Mark A. Finney, Chris Lautenberger, and David SaahVIEW
2022The GridFire Fire Behavior ModelWhite PaperJohnson, Gary W., David Saah, Max Moritz, and Kenneth CheungVIEW
2022Simulating burn severity classifications at 30 meters in two forested regions of California.Environmental Research LettersJonathan A. Sam, W. Jonathan Baldwin, A. LeRoy Westerling, Haiganoush K. Preisler, Samrajya B. Thapa, Qingqing Xu, Matthew D. Hurteau, and Benjamin M. Sleeter. VIEW
2022The magnitude, direction, and tempo of forest change in Greater Yellowstone in a warmer world with more fireEcological MonographsMonica G. Turner, Kristin H. Braziunas, Winslow D. Hansen, Tyler J. Hoecker, Werner Rammer, Zak Ratajczak, A. Leroy Westerling, and Rupert SeidlVIEW
2022Spatial and temporal pattern of burn severity and biomass burning-induced emissions in California. Environmental Research LettersQingqing Xu, A. LeRoy Westerling, and W. Jonathan Baldwin.VIEW
2022Wildfire Burn Severity and Emissions Inventory: An example implementation over CaliforniaEnvironmental Research LettersQingqing Xu, Anthony LeRoy Westerling, Andrew Notohamiprodjo, Christine Wiedinmyer, Joshua J Picotte, Sean A. Parks, Matthew D. Hurteau, Miriam E Marlier, Crystal A. Kolden, Jonathan A. Sam, W. Jonathan Baldwin, and Christiana AdeVIEW
2022Operational assessment tool for forest carbon dynamics for the United States: a new spatially explicit approach linking the LUCAS and CBM-CFS3 models.Carbon Balance and ManagementBenjamin M. Sleeter, Leonardo Frid, Bronwyn Rayfield, Colin Daniel, Zhiliang Zhu, and David C. MarvinVIEW

2021

Publications & Reports

YearPaper TitleJournalAuthorsLink
2021Forest restoration limits megafires and supports species conservation under climate changeFrontiers in Ecology and the EnvironmentGavin M. Jones, Alisa R. Keyser, A. Leroy Westerling, W. Jonathan Baldwin, John J. Keane, Sarah C. Sawyer, John D.J. Clare, R.J. GutiƩrrez, and M. Zachariah PeeryVIEW
2021Estimating Burn Severity in CaliforniaAGU Fall Meeting Conference AbstractsJonathan Sam, Haiganoush Preisler, Qingqing Xu, Jonathan Baldwin, Samrajya Thapa, and LeRoy WesterlingVIEW
2021An Integrated System for Estimating Burn Severity, Day-of-Burning, and Emissions with Google Earth EngineAGU Fall Meeting Conference AbstractsQingqing Xu, Leroy Westerling, Andrew Notohamiprodjo, Joshua Picotte, Sean Parks, and Christine WiedinmyerVIEW
2021Widespread regeneration failure in forests of Greater Yellowstone under scenarios of future climate and fireGlobal Change BiologyWerner Rammer, Kristin H. Braziunas, Winslow D. Hansen, Zak Ratajczak, Anthony L. Westerling, Monica G. Turner, and Rupert SeidlVIEW

2019

Publications & Reports

YearPaper TitleJournalAuthorsLink
2019Wildfire PM2.5 emissions and respiratory health outcomes in CaliforniaAGU Fall Meeting Conference AbstractsQingqing Xu, Anthony Leroy Westerling, Matthew D. Hurteau, Christine Wiedinmyer, Kurt Schnier, and W. Jonathan BaldwinVIEW