This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
1099-1085/asset/HYP_left.gif?v=1&s=8c6e69ce38a58268c0e774ff4d5fcba763fb1022)
1099-1085/asset/HYP_right.gif?v=1&s=2949a9e19dd518eed31b7ef95c7b6631bb69e22b)
Research Article
Comparison of soil infiltration rates in burned and unburned mountainous watersheds†
Article first published online: 25 OCT 2001
DOI: 10.1002/hyp.380
This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Published in 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Issue
1099-1085/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=76d4ef1a9cca2fed0ae2507c6de984a0c96ede1d "Hydrological Processes")
Hydrological Processes
Special Issue: Wildfire and Surficial Processes
Volume 15, Issue 15, pages 2893–2903, 30 October 2001
Additional Information
How to Cite
Martin, D. A. and Moody, J. A. (2001), Comparison of soil infiltration rates in burned and unburned mountainous watersheds. Hydrol. Process., 15: 2893–2903. doi: 10.1002/hyp.380
- †
Publication History
- Issue published online: 25 OCT 2001
- Article first published online: 25 OCT 2001
- Manuscript Accepted: 9 JUL 2001
- Manuscript Received: 1 APR 2001
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- wildfire;
- infiltration;
- New Mexico;
- Colorado
Abstract
Steady-state infiltration measurements were made at mountainous sites in New Mexico and Colorado, USA, with volcanic and granitic soils after wildfires and at comparable unburned sites. We measured infiltration in the New Mexico volcanic soils under two vegetation types, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer, and in the Colorado granitic soils under ponderosa pine vegetation. These measurements were made within high-severity burn areas using a portable infiltrometer with a 0·017 m2 infiltration area and artificial rainfall rates ranging from 97 to 440 mm h−1. Steady-state infiltration rates were less at all burned sites relative to unburned sites. The volcanic soil with ponderosa pine vegetation showed the greatest difference in infiltration rates with a ratio of steady-state infiltration rate in burned sites to unburned soils equal to 0·15. Volcanic soils with mixed conifer vegetation had a ratio (burned to unburned soils) of at most 0·38, and granitic soils with ponderosa pine vegetation had a ratio of 0·38. Steady-state infiltration rates on unburned volcanic and granitic soils with ponderosa pine vegetation are not statistically different. We present data on the particle-size distribution at all the study sites and examples of wetting patterns produced during the infiltration experiments. Published in 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.