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      By California Water Science Center      October 25, 2023    

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Over the last several decades, both the incidence of large wildfires and the duration of the wildfire season across much of the United States have increased (Westerling and others, 2006, American Water Works Assn, 2008; Finco and others, 2012). Future wildfire projections based on forecasted climate scenarios indicate both an increase in the expected severity of wildfires, and an expansion of wildfires over much of the northern hemisphere, particularly for western North America (Liu and others, 2010; Liu and others, 2012).

Back to Wildfires topic page

View Media Details

While the conditions that contribute to the intensity, size, and duration of wildfires are complex, scientists generally agree that the occurrence of wildfires will increase with climate change (Batllori, E., Parisien, M.-A., Krawchuk, M. A. and Moritz, M. A., 2013). Warming trends, dry, drought-affected landscapes, and lower fuel moisture contribute to these affects. Studies have also linked climate change with post-fire coniferous tree mortality across the western United States, and – subsequently – an increase in wildfire fuel. This suggests a general – but often overlooked – relationship between climate and wildfire (van Mantgem, P.J., Nesmith, J.C.B., Keifer, M., Knapp, E.E., Flint, A., Flint, L., 2013).

Wildfire has many impacts on the hydrologic system and processes. Among these are changes in soil properties and removal of vegetation, both a result of fire intensity. Further, the potential loss of evapotranspiration from burned vegetation reduces the ability of the soil to absorb water. This results in an increase in runoff, as soil is no longer absorbing runoff water. The USGS studies the influence of fire on hydrologic systems using the Basin Characterization Model (BCM). This USGS modeling software allows scientists to use future climate and precipitation scenarios to calculate how much water may be able to be absorbed by soil, and how much may simply run off the land's surface.

The USGS and researchers at U.C. Berkeley are working together to better understand and assess the relationship between climate and wildfire in California using climate model scenarios. This research is part of wider efforts to develop real-time fire risk maps for California based on climatic stresses.

### Study Area

### Explore Search

                      - Watersheds
                      - Wildfires
                      - Weather and Climate
                      - Hydrologic Extremes
                      - Surface Water
                      - Water Quality
                      - Dynamics and Risks
                      - Climate
                      - Natural Hazards
                      - Water

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

June 11, 2019

####                 Characterizing the Influence of Fire on Hydrology in Southern California              

California Water Science Center

link

June 11, 2019

####   Characterizing the Influence of Fire on Hydrology in Southern California

Learn More

link

June 5, 2018

####                 Water Quality after a Wildfire              

California Water Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

link

June 5, 2018

####   Water Quality after a Wildfire

Learn More

link

June 5, 2018

####                 Post-Fire Flooding and Debris Flow              

California Water Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

link

June 5, 2018

####   Post-Fire Flooding and Debris Flow

Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project.

May 4, 2016

####                 Trace elements in stormflow, ash, and burned soil following the 2009 station fire in southern California              

Water Resources Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, California Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

August 7, 2015

####                 The role of precipitation type, intensity, and spatial distribution in source water quality after wildfire              

Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program

July 26, 2013

####                 Climatic stress increases forest fire severity across the western United States              

Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), California Water Science Center

February 27, 2009

####                 Sample collection of ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California Wildfires              

Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

January 1, 2006

####                 Wildfire hazards—A national threat              

January 1, 1976

####                 A reconnaissance of the effects of a forest fire on water quality in Kings Canyon National Park, California              

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Wildfires, Water, and CAWSC Science

October 19, 2017

####   Wildfires, Water, and CAWSC Science

California's landscape is prone to drought and warmer climates. The recent drought lasted five years (2011 – early 2017), bringing with it many...

Read Article

Over the last several decades, both the incidence of large wildfires and the duration of the wildfire season across much of the United States have increased (Westerling and others, 2006, American Water Works Assn, 2008; Finco and others, 2012). Future wildfire projections based on forecasted climate scenarios indicate both an increase in the expected severity of wildfires, and an expansion of wildfires over much of the northern hemisphere, particularly for western North America (Liu and others, 2010; Liu and others, 2012).

Back to Wildfires topic page

View Media Details

While the conditions that contribute to the intensity, size, and duration of wildfires are complex, scientists generally agree that the occurrence of wildfires will increase with climate change (Batllori, E., Parisien, M.-A., Krawchuk, M. A. and Moritz, M. A., 2013). Warming trends, dry, drought-affected landscapes, and lower fuel moisture contribute to these affects. Studies have also linked climate change with post-fire coniferous tree mortality across the western United States, and – subsequently – an increase in wildfire fuel. This suggests a general – but often overlooked – relationship between climate and wildfire (van Mantgem, P.J., Nesmith, J.C.B., Keifer, M., Knapp, E.E., Flint, A., Flint, L., 2013).

Wildfire has many impacts on the hydrologic system and processes. Among these are changes in soil properties and removal of vegetation, both a result of fire intensity. Further, the potential loss of evapotranspiration from burned vegetation reduces the ability of the soil to absorb water. This results in an increase in runoff, as soil is no longer absorbing runoff water. The USGS studies the influence of fire on hydrologic systems using the Basin Characterization Model (BCM). This USGS modeling software allows scientists to use future climate and precipitation scenarios to calculate how much water may be able to be absorbed by soil, and how much may simply run off the land's surface.

The USGS and researchers at U.C. Berkeley are working together to better understand and assess the relationship between climate and wildfire in California using climate model scenarios. This research is part of wider efforts to develop real-time fire risk maps for California based on climatic stresses.

### Study Area

### Explore Search

                      - Watersheds
                      - Wildfires
                      - Weather and Climate
                      - Hydrologic Extremes
                      - Surface Water
                      - Water Quality
                      - Dynamics and Risks
                      - Climate
                      - Natural Hazards
                      - Water

View All **

Below are other science projects associated with this project.

link

June 11, 2019

####                 Characterizing the Influence of Fire on Hydrology in Southern California              

California Water Science Center

link

June 11, 2019

####   Characterizing the Influence of Fire on Hydrology in Southern California

Learn More

link

June 5, 2018

####                 Water Quality after a Wildfire              

California Water Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

link

June 5, 2018

####   Water Quality after a Wildfire

Learn More

link

June 5, 2018

####                 Post-Fire Flooding and Debris Flow              

California Water Science Center, Wildland Fire Science

link

June 5, 2018

####   Post-Fire Flooding and Debris Flow

Learn More

Below are publications associated with this project.

May 4, 2016

####                 Trace elements in stormflow, ash, and burned soil following the 2009 station fire in southern California              

Water Resources Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, California Water Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

August 7, 2015

####                 The role of precipitation type, intensity, and spatial distribution in source water quality after wildfire              

Climate Research and Development Program, Land Change Science Program

July 26, 2013

####                 Climatic stress increases forest fire severity across the western United States              

Water Resources Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), California Water Science Center

February 27, 2009

####                 Sample collection of ash and burned soils from the October 2007 southern California Wildfires              

Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Spectroscopy Lab

January 1, 2006

####                 Wildfire hazards—A national threat              

January 1, 1976

####                 A reconnaissance of the effects of a forest fire on water quality in Kings Canyon National Park, California              

Below are news stories associated with this project.

Wildfires, Water, and CAWSC Science

October 19, 2017

####   Wildfires, Water, and CAWSC Science

California's landscape is prone to drought and warmer climates. The recent drought lasted five years (2011 – early 2017), bringing with it many...

Read Article