Due to the past fire suppression in the North West of United States, fires increased both in number and intensity. This represents an increased threat for the human habitat as well as for the natural ecosystem. Many of the problems related to fires are reflected in an increased amount of runoff and erosion during rain events due to the detachment of the mineral soil exposed after the vegetation is burned. We have statistically evaluated 14 environmental variables to determine the correlation between mineral soil exposed after a fire and topography as well as the spatial distribution of fire effects on the hillslope within 4 watersheds from the Boise Basin Experimental Forest in Idaho, USA. We have also developed a model for the mineral soil exposed after a fire. The environmental variables were determined using a Geographic Information System and the ground cover variables were measured in the field. The long term objective of the study was to determine the topographic features of the landscape that influence the distribution of fire in forests and its severity. The results showed correlation between mineral soil exposed and 3 environmental variables: aspect, solar radiation and profile curvature, though only aspect and profile curvature were selected to model mineral soil prediction.
Spatial distribution of fire effects in forest using GIS tools
BITELLI, GABRIELE
2009
Abstract
Due to the past fire suppression in the North West of United States, fires increased both in number and intensity. This represents an increased threat for the human habitat as well as for the natural ecosystem. Many of the problems related to fires are reflected in an increased amount of runoff and erosion during rain events due to the detachment of the mineral soil exposed after the vegetation is burned. We have statistically evaluated 14 environmental variables to determine the correlation between mineral soil exposed after a fire and topography as well as the spatial distribution of fire effects on the hillslope within 4 watersheds from the Boise Basin Experimental Forest in Idaho, USA. We have also developed a model for the mineral soil exposed after a fire. The environmental variables were determined using a Geographic Information System and the ground cover variables were measured in the field. The long term objective of the study was to determine the topographic features of the landscape that influence the distribution of fire in forests and its severity. The results showed correlation between mineral soil exposed and 3 environmental variables: aspect, solar radiation and profile curvature, though only aspect and profile curvature were selected to model mineral soil prediction.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
