Review
Environmental Sciences
Rafik Ghali, Moulay A. Akhloufi
Summary: In recent years, there has been a rise in wildland fires worldwide due to various factors. Climate change is expected to be the main driver for the increasing number of these fires in the coming years. The development of remote fire detection systems based on deep learning models and vision transformers shows promising solutions for addressing this issue. However, there is a lack of published studies on the implementation of deep learning models for wildland fire classification, detection, and segmentation tasks. This paper provides a comprehensive review and analysis of these vision methods and their performances, highlighting the superiority of deep learning approaches over traditional machine learning methods and discussing the research gaps and future directions in this field.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jerry D. Tagestad, Troy M. Saltiel, Andre M. Coleman
Summary: This study tests an automated approach using satellite data and machine learning classifiers to detect and map retardant application. The multiclass model outperforms the single-class model and image differencing outperforms single-image models. Our approach allows for the rapid assessment of retardant effectiveness and documentation of placement in relation to sensitive environments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sofia Martinez, Cristina P. Contreras, Sara E. Acevedo, Carlos A. Bonilla
Summary: Wildfires have varying effects on the physical, chemical, and hydraulic properties of soil, depending on the characteristics of the soil and the wildfires. This study developed a laboratory procedure to heat soil samples and identify changes in soil properties at different temperatures. The results showed that changes in pH, electrical conductivity, wet aggregate stability, and soil water repellency index were consistent with naturally heated soils.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hasan Mozaffari, Ali Akbar Moosavi, Ali Reza Sepaskhah
Summary: The study evaluates the effects of long-term land use types on soil hydraulic properties, finding that different land use types have different impacts on hydraulic conductivity and pore size classes. The results are useful for accurately describing water flow patterns and chemical transport in soil environments.
ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ubirajara Oliveira, Britaldo Soares-Filho, Hermann Rodrigues, Danilo Figueira, Leticia Gomes, William Leles, Christian Berlinck, Fabiano Morelli, Mercedes Bustamante, Jean Ometto, Heloisa Miranda
Summary: Wildfires are worsening due to climate change, requiring territorial intelligence in public policies for prevention and control, especially in vast regions like Brazil. A fire-spread prediction system has been developed for the Brazilian Cerrado, the biome most affected by wildfires in South America, which calculates maps of fuels loads, vegetation moisture, and probability of burning to simulate fire spread multiple times a day. The model achieves a spatial match of 65-89% and is accompanied by ancillary data on an interactive web-platform, which serves as a tool for fire prevention and fight in selected conservation units.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jeffrey M. Kane
Summary: The study found significant effects of stand conditions on dead surface fuel moisture within Oregon white oak ecosystems, with thinned stands consistently having warmer and drier conditions than encroached stands. Differences in fuel moisture were most pronounced in late spring and early fall.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Zachary Wenderott, Phillip J. van Mantgem, Micah C. Wright, Calvin A. Farris, Rosemary L. Sherriff
Summary: Prescribed fire treatments can reduce fire hazards, but their impact on large, old trees is an important consideration. This study analyzed the effects of prescribed fire treatments on forest structure and individual tree growth in mixed-conifer forests of Lassen Volcanic National Park using long-term plot records and dendrochronological samples.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Longzhong Shi, Bo Chen, Xuan Chen, Zhuo Chen
Summary: This article investigates the impact of wildfires on property values in the wildland-urban intermix (WUIM) and wildland-urban interface (WUIF) in Colorado. The study finds significant differences in the effects of wildfires on property values between WUIM and WUIF. Larger fires depreciate property values in WUIM, but increase property values in WUIF. Additionally, both small and large fires have a negative impact on property values in both WUIM and WUIF.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Xiyan Zhang, Dongqing Li, Lei Chen, Feng Ming, Yuhang Liu
Summary: This study proposed a simple and smooth hydraulic conductivity model for saturated frozen soil based on the soil freezing characteristic curve, which was validated with experimental cases and found that the predictive modeling power was related to the tortuosity function. The model showed better performance compared to previous models, providing a new idea for developing the hydraulic conductivity model of saturated frozen soil.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Abhishek Goyal, Alessia Flammini, Renato Morbidelli, Corrado Corradini, Rao S. Govindaraju
Summary: The impact of observations on the maximum likelihood estimates (MLE) of the Ks distribution parameters is evaluated in this study. Based on data from rainfall-runoff events, the results demonstrate the role of temporal variation of rainfall in resolving the Ks field for a rainfall event.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Forestry
Phillip J. van Mantgem, Anthony C. Caprio, Nathan L. Stephenson, Adrian J. Das
Summary: Prescribed fire reduces fire hazards by removing dead and live fuels, while also potentially increasing trees' ability to survive drought. Studies show that reductions in forest density following prescribed fire treatments, combined with mechanical treatments, may help lessen competition and improve tree survival rates.
Article
Thermodynamics
Lei Chen, Feng Ming, Xiyan Zhang, Xiaobin Wei, Yuhang Liu
Summary: This study presents an experimental and theoretical method for obtaining the hydraulic conductivity of warm saturated frozen soil, which can accurately predict the hydraulic conductivity through a proposed equivalent model. The validity of the model is confirmed by comparing predictions with measured data.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Edzard Hangen, Friedhelm Vieten, Uwe Geuss
Summary: This study utilized field data to estimate the field-saturated hydraulic conductivity of alluvial soils, developing a pedotransfer function to predict K-fs values for 11 different alluvial soils. While individual realizations showed deviation to measured values, the averaged linear regression provided acceptable accuracy.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Chieh-Ming Wu, Olorunfemi Adetona, Chi Song
Summary: Wildland firefighters exposed to prescribed burns experience changes in their cardiovascular system, including a decrease in systolic blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, likely due to carbon monoxide exposure and physical exertion during firefighting tasks.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYGIENE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Brian A. Ebel, Zachary M. Shephard, Michelle A. Walvoord, Sheila F. Murphy, Trevor F. Partridge, Kim S. Perkins
Summary: Wildfires are an increasing concern due to climate change, and their hydrologic effects are being studied using numerical models. This review examines the use of physically based distributed models to understand water resources after wildfires, focusing on geographic/ecohydrologic distribution, representation of hydrologic processes, model parameterization, and model performance. There are opportunities for improvement, such as applying models in underrepresented regions, incorporating all streamflow generation mechanisms, and integrating vegetation regrowth models with hydrologic models.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna L. Hermes, Brian A. Ebel, Sheila F. Murphy, Eve-Lyn S. Hinckley
Summary: The study investigated the bio-geochemical fingerprints of sulfur and carbon in the Napa River Watershed in California, showing the interacting effects of wildfire and land use on watershed sulfur and carbon cycling.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Matthew A. Thomas, Francis K. Rengers, Jason W. Kean, Luke A. McGuire, Dennis M. Staley, Katherine R. Barnhart, Brian A. Ebel
Summary: This study analyzes the potential for debris flows after wildfires over time and proposes a method to improve awareness of post-wildfire debris flow hazards. The research finds that rainfall intensity and duration are closely related to the types of debris flows following wildfires, while factors such as soil moisture, rainfall climatology, and root reinforcement may also impact the probability of debris flows.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-EARTH SURFACE
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
John R. Nimmo, Kim S. Perkins, Michelle R. Plampin, Michelle A. Walvoord, Brian A. Ebel, Benjamin B. Mirus
Summary: The unsaturated zone plays a crucial role in land and water resource management by controlling water flow and reducing vulnerability to contaminants. Rapid flow and transport in the unsaturated zone are becoming more common due to extreme hydroclimatic events, yet they are poorly understood. Scaling issues pose challenges in accurately representing these processes at larger spatial scales.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Civil
Joseph W. Wagenbrenner, Brian A. Ebel, Kevin D. Bladon, Alicia M. Kinoshita
Summary: Research on post-fire hydrologic recovery in Mediterranean climates shows uncertainty in recovery time and lacks a consistent definition. Studies reveal that 18 sites were considered recovered within seven years, but recovery time varied inconsistently across locations, unrelated to location, response variable, or study design.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brian A. Ebel, John A. Moody, Deborah A. Martin
Summary: Burn severity has a significant impact on soil-hydraulic properties after wildfires, influencing soil-physical properties and ground cover composition. However, the trends in soil-hydraulic properties were found to be less affected by initial burn severity, highlighting the complex relationships between burn severity, soil properties, and infiltration models.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joshua C. Koch, Matthew J. Bogard, David E. Butman, Kerri Finlay, Brian Ebel, Jason James, Sarah Ellen Johnston, M. Torre Jorgenson, Neal J. Pastick, Robert G. M. Spencer, Robert Striegl, Michelle Walvoord, Kimberly P. Wickland
Summary: Climate change is causing the thawing of permafrost soils in northern circumpolar landscapes, potentially releasing large quantities of organic carbon (OC) into the environment. However, the extent and mechanisms of OC mobilization and terrestrial-aquatic transfer are not well understood.
GLOBAL BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Natalie M. Collar, Samuel Saxe, Brian A. Ebel, Kathryn S. Boden, Ashley J. Rust, Terri S. Hogue
Summary: The impact of wildfire on water availability is a critical issue in the western United States. The study found that fire-induced reductions in actual evapotranspiration (ETa) can lead to increased post-fire discharge. The effect of wildfire on streamflow magnitude varies seasonally and is more pronounced in basins with larger burned areas. The results highlight the higher relative risk of fire-induced hydro-modification for water providers with small source-water collection areas.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Brian A. Ebel
Summary: More measurements are needed in post-fire infiltration studies; effect size is the primary control on statistical power; steady state rainfall simulation method has greater statistical power compared to other measurement methods.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
David M. Rey, Martin A. Briggs, Michelle A. Walvoord, Brian A. Ebel
Summary: Increasingly severe and frequent wildfires in the western United States may change the quantity, timing, and quality of water exported by streams from burned areas. However, the effects of wildfires on groundwater recharge, changes in subsurface routing, and their consequences for stream low flows sourced predominantly by baseflow are poorly understood. This study demonstrates the use of temperature signals to identify changes in watershed subsurface flow contributions after fire and provides a framework for water management, impacts on aquatic habitat, and post-wildfire response planning.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Brian A. Ebel, Zachary M. Shephard, Michelle A. Walvoord, Sheila F. Murphy, Trevor F. Partridge, Kim S. Perkins
Summary: Wildfires are an increasing concern due to climate change, and their hydrologic effects are being studied using numerical models. This review examines the use of physically based distributed models to understand water resources after wildfires, focusing on geographic/ecohydrologic distribution, representation of hydrologic processes, model parameterization, and model performance. There are opportunities for improvement, such as applying models in underrepresented regions, incorporating all streamflow generation mechanisms, and integrating vegetation regrowth models with hydrologic models.
Article
Water Resources
Sheila F. Murphy, Charles N. Alpers, Chauncey W. Anderson, J. Ryan Banta, Johanna M. Blake, Kurt D. Carpenter, Gregory D. Clark, David W. Clow, Laura A. Hempel, Deborah A. Martin, Michael R. Meador, Gregory O. Mendez, Anke B. Mueller-Solger, Marc A. Stewart, Sean E. Payne, Cara L. Peterman, Brian A. Ebel
Summary: Wildfires pose a risk to water supplies due to potential degradation of water quality, but a lack of data hinders prediction and assessment of post-wildfire impacts. Strategic monitoring and selection of sampling locations based on specific criteria can enhance assessment and prediction of post-wildfire water quality. Improved estimates of post-wildfire effects on water quality would help mitigate impacts on water supplies.
FRONTIERS IN WATER
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Brian A. Ebel, Joseph W. Wagenbrenner, Alicia M. Kinoshita, Kevin D. Bladon
Summary: Deviations in hydrologic processes caused by wildfires can impact streamflow, affecting peak flows and low flows. These changes can have consequences for water supplies, including quantity, quality, and timing. Post-fire shifts in hydrologic processes can also alter the timing and magnitude of floods and debris flows. The duration of hydrologic recovery is a critical concern for land, water, and emergency managers.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY AND HYDROMECHANICS
(2022)