Which factors include slope degree, aspect, and physical features affecting wildland fire behavior?

Topography refers to the arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, which significantly influences wildland fire behavior. Factors like slope degree, aspect (the direction a slope faces), and other physical features such as valleys, ridges, and elevation are all part of the topographical landscape.

When considering slope, for example, fire tends to move more quickly uphill than downhill due to the rising heat and flames. The aspect can determine the amount of sunlight an area receives, which impacts moisture levels and the likelihood of fire ignition and spread. These elements combined create a complex interaction that affects how a wildfire behaves in a given area.

While weather factors, vegetation types, and fire intensity are also crucial components in understanding fire dynamics, they do not encapsulate the physical land characteristics that are inherent to topography. The specific traits of the terrain itself can create distinct conditions that either inhibit or facilitate fire growth and movement.