Wildfire Induces Changes in Receiving Waters: A Review With Considerations for Water Quality Management.

ABSTRACT: Wildfires have increased in frequency in many ecosystems, with implications for human health and the environment, including water quality. Increased fire frequency and urbanization also raise the prospect of fires burning into urban areas, mobilizing pollutants few have considered to date. As a result, water quality managers lack information to anticipate, respond to and potentially mitigate wildfire impacts. Here, we reviewed the scientific literature to assess wildfire effects on response endpoints of a conceptual model linking fire to water quality, quantifying response directionality, magnitude and duration. Physically, water yield, sediments, and temperature all increased post-fire. Chemically, nutrients, ions, organic chemicals, and metals increased in burned watersheds, sometimes by

SUBMITTER: Paul MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10034714 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature