Effects of fire and torrential rainfall on erosion in a Mediterranean gorse community

Abstract

Wildland fires and torrential rainfall are important factors affecting Mediterranean nature and human society. In this paper, we investigate their combined impact on a fire-prone vegetation community at the east coast of Spain. Our results show that shrub cover provides an effective control of erosion even under simulated extreme rainfall events. After fire, soil erosion increased noticeably; however, the amount of sediment produced varied greatly, which can be explained by variations in fire severity. The quantity of litter debris after the fire plays a decisive role in controlling the erosion that follows.

Hydrology of the Upper Indus Basin Under Potential Climate Change Scenarios

“…103.3a-d) correspond to low permeability conditions, with a higher runoff and hence where erosion processes can preferentially occur. Our results agree with other studies showing that fires increase runoff rate and soil erosion (Giovannini and Lucchesi 1991;Andreu et al 1994;Inbar et al 1998;Pierson et al 2002;De Luis et al 2003). Immediately after the fire (Fig.…”

Torrential rainfall in northeast of the Iberian Peninsula: synoptic patterns and WeMO influence

“…1). The 100 mm in 24 h has been established as a threshold for identifying heavy rainfall events in Catalonia (Llasat, 2001), which are related to an increase in soil erosion processes (De Luis et al, 2003). To this end, we consulted different sources: the Spanish National Meteorology Institute (INM), the Catalonia Meteorology Service (SMC), the Catalonia Water Agency (ACA) and other networks of observation stations in Catalonia, as well as Barcelona's Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts.…”

How wildfires affect soil properties. A brief review

“…The thickness of the ash layer depends on fire severity: thin ash layers are observed after low-severity fire, while thick ash layers are observed after highseverity fire due to the consumption of larger amounts of fuel. The amount of charred litter and ash released after fire seems to be a key factor in reducing post-fire soil erosion risk in a short period ranging between hours and months (Cerdà, 1998;De Luis et al, 2003;Cerdà and Doerr, 2008;Zavala et al, 2009). The time period during which ash remain on the soil surface may vary depending on external agents as rainfall, runoff or wind and properties of ash (Cerdà and Doerr, 2008).…”