Surface Temperature for Assessing Soil Burn Severity in Mediterranean Fire-Prone Pine Ecosystems

Marcos, E., Fernández-García, V., Fernández-Manso, A., Quintano, C., Valbuena, L., Tárrega, R., Luis-Calabuig, E., Calvo, L. (2018) - Surface Temperature for Assessing Soil Burn Severity in Mediterranean Fire-Prone Pine Ecosystems - Forests

We analysed the relationship between burn severity indicators, from remote sensing and
field observations, and soil properties after a wildfire in a fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystem. Our
study area was a large wildfire in a Pinus pinaster forest. Burn severity from remote sensing was
identified by studying immediate post-fire Land Surface Temperature (LST). We also evaluated
burn severity in the field applying the Composite Burn Index (CBI) in a total of 84 plots (30 m
diameter). In each plot we evaluated litter consumption, ash colour and char depth as visual
indicators. We collected soil samples and pH, soil organic carbon, dry aggregate size distribution
(MWD), aggregate stability and water repellency were analysed. A controlled heating of soil was
also carried out in the laboratory, with soil from the control plots, to compare with the changes
produced in soils affected by different severity levels in the field. Our results shown that changes
in soil properties affected by wildfire were only observed in soil aggregation in the high severity
situation. The laboratory-controlled heating showed that temperatures of about 300 C result in a
significant reduction in soil organic carbon and MWD. Furthermore, soil organic carbon showed a
significant decrease when LST values increased. Char depth was the best visual indicator to show
changes in soil properties (mainly physical properties) in large fires that occur in Mediterranean
pine forests. We conclude that CBI and post-fire LST can be considered good indicators of soil burn
severity since both indicate the impact of fire on soil properties.

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