Current research issues related to post-wildfire runoff and erosion processes

Moody, John A.; Shakesby, Richard A.; Robichaud, Peter R.; Cannon, Susan H.; Martin, Deborah A.

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2013.03.004

Cited by 528 publications

(540 citation statements)

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“…In the days to months after fires, post-fire hydrologic and chemical responses appear to be controlled by rain characteristics and the amount of surface runoff [38]. When post-fire overland flow is small, fewer post-fire changes are observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

At the nexus of fire, water and society

Martin¹

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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The societal risks of water scarcity and water-quality impairment have received considerable attention, evidenced by recent analyses of these topics by the 2030 Water Resources Group, the United Nations and the World Economic Forum. What are the effects of fire on the predicted water scarcity and declines in water quality? Drinking water supplies for humans, the emphasis of this exploration, are derived from several land cover types, including forests, grasslands and peatlands, which are vulnerable to fire. In the last two decades, fires have affected the water supply catchments of Denver (CO) and other southwestern US cities, and four major Australian cities including Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide and Melbourne. In the same time period, several, though not all, national, regional and global water assessments have included fire in evaluations of the risks that affect water supplies. The objective of this discussion is to explore the nexus of fire, water and society with the hope that a more explicit understanding of fire effects on water supplies will encourage the incorporation of fire into future assessments of water supplies, into the pyrogeography conceptual framework and into planning efforts directed at water resiliency. This article is part of the themed issue ‘The interaction of fire and mankind’.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

At the nexus of fire, water and society

Martin¹

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…Improved prediction is important not only for intrinsic scientific reasons but also because better accuracy of models is vital in helping decision-makers take the most appropriate and timely action to minimise soil loss, damage to stream courses and property together with problems arising from flooding, rapid mass movements, reduced water quality and threats to life. A pre-meeting review paper (Moody et al 2013 Identification and classification of post-wildfire domains The aim of this topic was to explore the feasibility of classifying post-wildfire responses into domains in order to improve model predictions. Post-wildfire response domains may be viewed as areas or regions characterised by distinctive patterns or sets of environmental controlling factors (Moody et al 2013).…”

Section: Introduction and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A pre-meeting review paper (Moody et al 2013 Identification and classification of post-wildfire domains The aim of this topic was to explore the feasibility of classifying post-wildfire responses into domains in order to improve model predictions. Post-wildfire response domains may be viewed as areas or regions characterised by distinctive patterns or sets of environmental controlling factors (Moody et al 2013). However, discussions clearly showed that: (1) the previously preferred parameter for differentiating domains -fire regimeswas not appropriate because humans and climate change have significantly altered them; and (2) in some regions, a single locally distinctive factor or group of such factors (e.g.…”

Section: Introduction and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results of Sidman et al confirm, therefore, what the post-wildfire research community has long realised but been largely unable to resolve -that the required data for characterising rainfall may not be available. Identifying the best spatiotemporal metrics and scale to represent rainfall remains a critical research priority (Moody et al 2013). Sidman et al demonstrate why this is so, but it is encouraging to learn that prediction based on more typically available data can still be useful to managers.…”

Section: Introduction and Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Synthesising empirical results to improve predictions of post-wildfire runoff and erosion response

Shakesby

Moody

Martin

et al. 2016

Int. J. Wildland Fire

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Abstract. Advances in research into wildfire impacts on runoff and erosion have demonstrated increasing complexity of controlling factors and responses, which, combined with changing fire frequency, present challenges for modellers. We convened a conference attended by experts and practitioners in post-wildfire impacts, meteorology and related research, including modelling, to focus on priority research issues. The aim was to improve our understanding of controls and responses and the predictive capabilities of models. This conference led to the eight selected papers in this special issue. They address aspects of the distinctiveness in the controls and responses among wildfire regions, spatiotemporal rainfall variability, infiltration, runoff connectivity, debris flow formation and modelling applications. Here we summarise key findings from these papers and evaluate their contribution to improving understanding and prediction of post-wildfire runoff and erosion under changes in climate, human intervention and population pressure on wildfire-prone areas.

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“…Wildfire prone regions, often with increasing populations, are susceptible to loss of life and catastrophic destruction from floods and debris flows as a result of higher runoff and erosion under post-wildfire conditions (Moody et al, 2013). Assessing the hydrologic effects of wildfires in mountainous regions is particularly interesting as these areas often contain the headwater sub-watersheds supplying water that is relied upon downstream (Viviroli et al, 2007).…”

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Assessing the long-term hydrologic response to wildfires in mountainous regions

Havel

Tasdighi

Arabi

2017

Preprint

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Abstract. This study aims to understand the long-term hydrologic responses to wildfires in mountainous regions at various spatial scales. The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to evaluate hydrologic response of the upper Cache la Poudre watershed in Colorado to the 2012 High Park and Hewlett wildfire events. A baseline SWAT model was established 10 to simulate the hydrology of the study area between the years 2000 and 2014. The effects of wildfires on land cover were accounted for in the model using the SWAT land use update module. The wildfire effects on curve numbers were determined comparing the probability distribution of curve numbers after calibrating the model for pre and post wildfire conditions. Daily calibration and testing of the model produced "very good" results. No-wildfire and wildfire scenarios were created and compared to quantify changes in average annual total runoff volume, water budgets, and full streamflow statistics at different 15 spatial scales. At the watershed scale, wildfire conditions showed little impact on the hydrologic responses. However, a runoff increase up to 75 percent was observed between the scenarios in sub-watersheds with high burn intensity. Generally, higher surface runoff and decreased subsurface flow were observed under post-wildfire conditions. Flow-duration curves developed for burned sub-basins using full streamflow statistics showed that less frequent streamflows become greater in magnitude. A strong (R 2 > 0.8) and significant (p < 0.001) positive correlation was determined between runoff increase and 20 percentage of burned area upstream. This study showed that the effects of wildfires on hydrology of a watershed are scaledependent. Results also revealed that the wildfires had a higher effect on peak flows, which may increase the risk of flash floods in post-wildfire conditions.

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Current research issues related to post-wildfire runoff and erosion processes

Cited by 528 publications

References 263 publications

At the nexus of fire, water and society

At the nexus of fire, water and society

Synthesising empirical results to improve predictions of post-wildfire runoff and erosion response

Assessing the long-term hydrologic response to wildfires in mountainous regions

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