Wildfires increasingly impact western US fluvial networks

Grady Ball, Peter Regier, Ricardo González-Pinzón (), Justin Reale and David Van Horn ()
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Grady Ball: University of New Mexico
Peter Regier: University of New Mexico
Ricardo González-Pinzón: University of New Mexico
Justin Reale: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District
David Van Horn: University of New Mexico

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Wildfires are increasing globally in frequency, severity, and extent, but their impact on fluvial networks, and the resources they provide, remains unclear. We combine remote sensing of burn perimeter and severity, in-situ water quality monitoring, and longitudinal modeling to create the first large-scale, long-term estimates of stream+river length impacted by wildfire for the western US. We find that wildfires directly impact ~6% of the total stream+river length between 1984 and 2014, increasing at a rate of 342 km/year. When longitudinal propagation of water quality impacts is included, we estimate that wildfires affect ~11% of the total stream+river length. Our results indicate that wildfire activity is one of the largest drivers of aquatic impairment, though it is not routinely reported by regulatory agencies, as wildfire impacts on fluvial networks remain unconstrained. We identify key actions to address this knowledge gap and better understand the growing threat to fluvial networks, water security, and public health risks.

Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22747-3

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22747-3

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