The Effects of Fire on Soil Water Repellency, Catchment Sediment Yields and Streamflow

Abstract

A wide range of hydrological responses to fire has been recorded (Anderson et al. 1976; Tiedemann et al. 1979). This is due to the varied fire and site characteristics encountered: season of burn, rate and amount of energy released, geological and soil factors, basin morphology, vegetation type and climate may all be important. Thus, a uniform response to fire should not be expected. Some of the findings of fire’s effects on streamflow and sediment yields, at catchment and plot levels, are summarized in Appendices 12.1 and 12.2