| Abstract | The present paper contributes to bridging the gaps in modelling post-fire impact and mitigation measures on soil erosion. The specific aims were to predict the effects of forest fires and post-fire mitigation measures on runoff and specific sediment yield (SSY) in a river basin (Celone, S-E Italy). The Soil and Water Assessment Tool model, calibrated with field observations, was used to evaluate runoff and SSY for the current land use (baseline) and six post-fire scenarios. From 1990 to 2011, at the basin scale, the average annual SSY was 5.60 t hayr (SD = 3.47 t hayr). 20% of the total drainage area showed a critical value of SSY (>10 t ha yr). The effects of different fire-severity levels were predicted for one year after the fire, acting on a limited area (2.3% of the total basin area). At the basin scale, the post-fire effect on surface runoff was negligible for all scenarios (<0.4%), and the impact on SSY increased from 5.86 t ha yr up to 12.05 t ha yr. At the subbasin scale, the post-fire logging scenario showed the highest increase of soil loss (SSY increased from 9.48 t ha yr to 57.40 t ha yr). Post-fire mitigation treatments like straw mulching and erosion barriers effectively reduced soil erosion in high- and moderate-severity fires (19.12 t hayr and 20.93 t ha yr, respectively). At the hydrological response unit level, the SSY estimated for the forest in the baseline ranged from 1.18 t hayr to 2.04 t ha yr. SSY increased more than one order of magnitude for the high-severity fire scenarios and ranged from 4.33 to 6.74 t ha yr in the very low-severity fire scenario, underlining the scale effect from the HRU to the basin scale. |
| Text | 465216 2022 10.1016/j.catena.2022.106080 Scopus 2 s2.0 85123997829 modelling forest fire soil erosion SWAT model mitigation measures Modelling effects of forest fire and post fire management in a catchment prone to erosion Impacts on sediment yield De Girolamo A.M.; Cerdan O.; Grangeon T.; Ricci G.F.; Vandromme R.; Lo Porto A. Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Italy, , , Italy; Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Water Research Institute, National Research Council, Bari, Italy, , , Italy; Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, Departement Risques et Prevention, Orleans, Bureau de Recherches Geologiques et Minieres, Departement Risques et Prevention, Orleans, France, , France; University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Bari, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Bari, Italy, , Italy The present paper contributes to bridging the gaps in modelling post fire impact and mitigation measures on soil erosion. The specific aims were to predict the effects of forest fires and post fire mitigation measures on runoff and specific sediment yield SSY in a river basin Celone, S E Italy . The Soil and Water Assessment Tool model, calibrated with field observations, was used to evaluate runoff and SSY for the current land use baseline and six post fire scenarios. From 1990 to 2011, at the basin scale, the average annual SSY was 5.60 t hayr SD = 3.47 t hayr . 20% of the total drainage area showed a critical value of SSY >10 t ha yr . The effects of different fire severity levels were predicted for one year after the fire, acting on a limited area 2.3% of the total basin area . At the basin scale, the post fire effect on surface runoff was negligible for all scenarios <0.4% , and the impact on SSY increased from 5.86 t ha yr up to 12.05 t ha yr. At the subbasin scale, the post fire logging scenario showed the highest increase of soil loss SSY increased from 9.48 t ha yr to 57.40 t ha yr . Post fire mitigation treatments like straw mulching and erosion barriers effectively reduced soil erosion in high and moderate severity fires 19.12 t hayr and 20.93 t ha yr, respectively . At the hydrological response unit level, the SSY estimated for the forest in the baseline ranged from 1.18 t hayr to 2.04 t ha yr. SSY increased more than one order of magnitude for the high severity fire scenarios and ranged from 4.33 to 6.74 t ha yr in the very low severity fire scenario, underlining the scale effect from the HRU to the basin scale. 212 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85123997829 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Elsevier Science 0341 8162 Catena Cremling. Catena Cremling. Catena Cremling. Catena. Cremling. Catena Amsterdam Cremling. Catena Giessen Cremling. antonio.loporto LO PORTO ANTONIO annamaria.degirolamo DE GIROLAMO ANNA MARIA |
