Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2004OR45B

Satellite Remote Sensing of Wildfire Induced Changes in Hydro-Geomorphological Landscape Patterns and Processes

Institute: Oregon
Year Established: 2004 Start Date: 2004-02-15 End Date: 2005-02-14
Total Federal Funds: $21,236 Total Non-Federal Funds: $43,126

Principal Investigators: Stephen H. Schoenholtz

Project Summary: Severe wildfires result not only in dramatic changes in vegetation cover, but also induce significant changes in hydro-geomorphology. These changes may include decreased infiltration, increased overland flow, increased soil erosion, and debris-flow initiation during post-fire storm-events. A number of geomorphic variables (e.g., fire severity) have been identified that can lead to increased erosion activity; however, present methods of characterizing these variables within burnt basins may be both time-consuming and labor-intensive. Satellite remote sensing holds great potential for rapid assessment of these variables. This research proposes to use data from the Moderate resolution Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MODIS) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) to map and characterize burn-induced erosion variables at multiple spatial scales.