Intact ash and charred litter reduces susceptibility to rain splash erosion post-wildfire

摘要: This paper describes the changes in soil water repellency and hydrological erosional responses to rainfall at small-plot scale, arising from a prescribed fire immediately following burning one year later Mediterranean heathland area of Strait Gibraltar (southern Spain). Very little research has been carried out about modifications on ground surface after burning. A was conducted study short-term After fire, homogeneous charred litter layer ash-bed covered mineral surface. cover stayed stable during period seven days, until strong winds redistributed ashes. The hydrophobicity exposed (litter ashes) decreased considerably relation with properties before fire. Ponding, runoff coefficients loss were determined using simulated over layer, bare soil. Significant differences not detected between pre- post-fire rates while thick ash present Runoff erosion increased time ponding when layers artificially removed exposed. Although wildfires will increase erodibility, trends observed this suggest that susceptibility rainsplash processes may be limited some degree an intact is still present. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.