Article
Forestry
Luc Guindon, Sylvie Gauthier, Francis Manka, Marc-Andre Parisien, Ellen Whitman, Pierre Bernier, Andre Beaudoin, Philippe Villemaire, Rob Skakun
Summary: This study aims to establish a geospatial database of burn severity for wildland fires in Canada from 1985 to 2015 and evaluate seasonal and annual trends in burn severity. The results show that burn severity tends to be lower in spring fires compared to summer fires, both nationally and regionally across different units.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FOREST RESEARCH
(2021)
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
Flavie Pelletier, Bianca N. Eskelson, Vicente J. Monleon, Yi-Chin Tseng
Summary: Accurate assessment of burn severity after wildfires is crucial as their frequency and size increase. Remotely-sensed imagery allows for rapid assessment, but requires field validation. This study used ground-based inventory data and remotely-sensed data to determine the best matching methods for burn severity assessments.
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
Engineering, Aerospace
Hasan Tonbul, Ismail Colkesen, Taskin Kavzoglu
Summary: This study analyzed the performance of three ensemble learning algorithms in burn severity mapping and applied them to fire-affected areas using remote sensing images. The results showed that the CCF classifier had the highest classification accuracy in both pixel-based and object-based classifications.
ADVANCES IN SPACE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Preethi Konkathi, Amba Shetty
Summary: Forest fires have significant impacts on biodiversity, land degradation, and ecological balance, making post-fire burn severity assessment essential for understanding the effects on vegetation. This study compared the accuracy of different fire severity indices based on Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 imagery, with RdNBR showing the highest accuracy in mapping burn severity. Both satellite systems provided acceptable severity analysis, with Landsat-8 offering adequate assessment of the degree of damage.
EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATICS
(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
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Weiwei Wang, Xianli Wang, Wanli Wu, Futao Guo, Jane Park, Guangyu Wang
Summary: This study investigated the burn severity in the Canadian Rocky Mountain region using satellite imagery. It found that fuel type had the most significant influence on burn severity, while topography, vegetation, and climate had equal contributions. The study also predicted the burn severity potential in different areas and highlighted the effectiveness of fire management in local communities.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
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
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
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
J. M. Costa-Saura, D. Spano, C. Sirca, V. Bacciu
Summary: Two main approaches, fire spread simulators and machine learning models, are commonly used to map fire-prone areas. They differ in the handling of environmental variables, leading to contrasting spatial patterns and interpretations. Results from Southern Italy show that Random Forest produces more smoothed results compared to Flammap, which only shows medium-high burn probabilities in certain locations. Additionally, the burn probabilities differ across fuel types and environmental conditions, suggesting that decisions based on fire simulators are more linked with actions preventing fire spread, while those based on machine learning might be more linked with fire occurrence elements not necessarily related to spreading, such as socioeconomic causes.
ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE
(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
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Osman Salih Yilmaz, Ugur Acar, Fusun Balik Sanli, Fatih Gulgen, Ali Murat Ates
Summary: This study used Sentinel-2 images and the Google Earth Engine platform to investigate forest fires in the Mediterranean region of Turkiye between July 28, 2021, and August 11, 2021. Burn severity maps were created using dNBR and dNDVI indices, and the burned areas were estimated based on the severity degrees. The study also analyzed vegetation density losses and post-fire CO column number densities. The results provide valuable information for understanding the severity of the forest fires and assessing the environmental impact.
EARTH SCIENCE INFORMATICS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Domina Delac, Ivica Kisic, Paulo Pereira
Summary: This study evaluates the effects of mulch treatments on soil quality after a wildfire, showing that mulching can increase soil aggregate stability and hydraulic conductivity, as well as improve soil nutrient content. Using mulch is recommended as an effective method for improving soil quality after a wildfire.
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)