1
|
Thery G, Juillot F, Calmels D, Bollaert Q, Meyer M, Quiniou T, David M, Jourand P, Ducousso M, Fritsch E, Landrot G, Morin G, Quantin C. Heating effect on chromium speciation and mobility in Cr-rich soils: A snapshot from New Caledonia. Sci Total Environ 2024; 922:171037. [PMID: 38373451 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Gaël Thery
- Géosciences Paris-Saclay, GEOPS, UMR CNRS 8148, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD, ERL 206 IMPMC, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Farid Juillot
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD, ERL 206 IMPMC, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia; Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, UMR 7590 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, IRD, 75005 Paris Cedex 05, France.
| | - Damien Calmels
- Géosciences Paris-Saclay, GEOPS, UMR CNRS 8148, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
| | - Quentin Bollaert
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, UMR 7590 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, IRD, 75005 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Michael Meyer
- Institut des Sciences Exactes et Appliquées, ISEA, EA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Thomas Quiniou
- Institut des Sciences Exactes et Appliquées, ISEA, EA, Université de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, Nouméa, New Caledonia
| | - Magali David
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD, ERL 206 IMPMC, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Philippe Jourand
- Laboratoire des Symbioses Tropicales et Mediterranéennes (LSTM), Université Montpellier, UMR IRD 040, UMR CIRAD 082, Campus International de Baillarguet, Montpellier, France
| | - Marc Ducousso
- Laboratoire des Symbioses Tropicales et Mediterranéennes (LSTM), Université Montpellier, UMR IRD 040, UMR CIRAD 082, Campus International de Baillarguet, Montpellier, France
| | - Emmanuel Fritsch
- Géosciences Paris-Saclay, GEOPS, UMR CNRS 8148, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France; Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, IRD, ERL 206 IMPMC, 98848 Nouméa Cedex, New Caledonia
| | - Gautier Landrot
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, l'Orme les Merisiers, Saint Aubin, France
| | - Guillaume Morin
- Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie, IMPMC, UMR 7590 CNRS, Sorbonne Université, MNHN, IRD, 75005 Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Cécile Quantin
- Géosciences Paris-Saclay, GEOPS, UMR CNRS 8148, Université Paris Saclay, 91405 Orsay Cedex, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nitzsche N, Nunes JP, Parente J. Assessing post-fire water quality changes in reservoirs: Insights from a large dataset in Portugal. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169463. [PMID: 38141993 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires in the Mediterranean basin, especially in Portugal, have increased in extent and frequency over the last few years. One of the impacts of wildfires on humans and ecosystems is on the water quality of surface waters. Ashes and increased erosion rates might, for example, change oxygen levels and elevate the influx of sediments, nutrients, or other water quality-related components like metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), possibly affecting water supply. In this study, time series of eight water quality parameters: biological- and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD), electrical conductivity (EC), total phosphorous (TP), nitrate (NO3-), total suspended sediments (TSS), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH, were assessed via changepoint analysis to identify events of post-fire water contamination in over 60 Portuguese reservoirs. Further, possible fire, watershed, reservoir, and climate-related drivers were linked with the occurrence of these contamination events through logistic regression using generalized additive models. All measured parameters exhibited post-fire changes, with some being more frequently affected than others. The concentrations of TP, NO3-, and TSS showed a noticeable increase following 9.6 %, 12.6 %, and 13.6 % of all wildfires, respectively. Most changes fell into the unusually large fire seasons of 2003-2005 and 2017. The most significant impacts could be seen in southern reservoirs after the fire seasons of 2003-2005. The burned area ratio of the watershed was identified as the main driver of post-fire water contamination, while reservoir and climate-related characteristics like water levels also played a significant role in some parameters. Increased levels of suspended sediments were identified as a potential threat to water supply, especially when large wildfires coincide with drought-induced low reservoir water levels. The identification of post-fire water contamination events and their drivers from large datasets can inform water managers about potential threats to water supply.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Niels Nitzsche
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Pedro Nunes
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Soil Physics and Land Management group, Wageningen University, PO Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Joana Parente
- cE3c - Center for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes & CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, 5° Piso, Sala 2.5.46, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Glassmeyer ST, Burns EE, Focazio MJ, Furlong ET, Gribble MO, Jahne MA, Keely SP, Kennicutt AR, Kolpin DW, Medlock Kakaley EK, Pfaller SL. Water, Water Everywhere, but Every Drop Unique: Challenges in the Science to Understand the Role of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Management of Drinking Water Supplies. Geohealth 2023; 7:e2022GH000716. [PMID: 38155731 PMCID: PMC10753268 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The protection and management of water resources continues to be challenged by multiple and ongoing factors such as shifts in demographic, social, economic, and public health requirements. Physical limitations placed on access to potable supplies include natural and human-caused factors such as aquifer depletion, aging infrastructure, saltwater intrusion, floods, and drought. These factors, although varying in magnitude, spatial extent, and timing, can exacerbate the potential for contaminants of concern (CECs) to be present in sources of drinking water, infrastructure, premise plumbing and associated tap water. This monograph examines how current and emerging scientific efforts and technologies increase our understanding of the range of CECs and drinking water issues facing current and future populations. It is not intended to be read in one sitting, but is instead a starting point for scientists wanting to learn more about the issues surrounding CECs. This text discusses the topical evolution CECs over time (Section 1), improvements in measuring chemical and microbial CECs, through both analysis of concentration and toxicity (Section 2) and modeling CEC exposure and fate (Section 3), forms of treatment effective at removing chemical and microbial CECs (Section 4), and potential for human health impacts from exposure to CECs (Section 5). The paper concludes with how changes to water quantity, both scarcity and surpluses, could affect water quality (Section 6). Taken together, these sections document the past 25 years of CEC research and the regulatory response to these contaminants, the current work to identify and monitor CECs and mitigate exposure, and the challenges facing the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Susan T. Glassmeyer
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | | | - Michael J. Focazio
- Retired, Environmental Health ProgramEcosystems Mission AreaU.S. Geological SurveyRestonVAUSA
| | - Edward T. Furlong
- Emeritus, Strategic Laboratory Sciences BranchLaboratory & Analytical Services DivisionU.S. Geological SurveyDenverCOUSA
| | - Matthew O. Gribble
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental HealthRollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Michael A. Jahne
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Scott P. Keely
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Alison R. Kennicutt
- Department of Civil and Mechanical EngineeringYork College of PennsylvaniaYorkPAUSA
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- U.S. Geological SurveyCentral Midwest Water Science CenterIowa CityIAUSA
| | | | - Stacy L. Pfaller
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Roth HK, Nelson AR, McKenna AM, Fegel TS, Young RB, Rhoades CC, Wilkins MJ, Borch T. Impact of beaver ponds on biogeochemistry of organic carbon and nitrogen along a fire-impacted stream. Environ Sci Process Impacts 2022; 24:1661-1677. [PMID: 36004537 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00184e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires, which are increasing in frequency and severity in the western U.S., impact water quality through increases in erosion, and transport of nutrients and metals. Meanwhile, beaver populations have been increasing since the early 1900s, and the ponds they create slow or impound hydrologic and elemental fluxes, increase soil saturation, and have a high potential to transform redox active elements (e.g., oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, and metals). However, it remains unknown how the presence of beaver ponds in burned watersheds may impact retention and transformation of chemical constituents originating in burned uplands (e.g., pyrogenic dissolved organic matter; pyDOM) and the consequences for downstream water quality. Here, we investigate the impact of beaver ponds on the chemical properties and molecular composition of dissolved forms of C and N, and the microbial functional potential encoded within these environments. The chemistry and microbiology of surface water and sediment changed along a stream sequence starting upstream of fire and flowing through multiple beaver ponds and interconnecting stream reaches within a burned high-elevation forest watershed. The relative abundance of N-containing compounds increased in surface water of the burned beaver ponds, which corresponded to lower C/N and O/C, and higher aromaticity as characterized by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). The resident microbial communities lack the capacity to process such aromatic pyDOM, though genomic analyses demonstrate their potential to metabolize various compounds in the anaerobic sediments of the beaver ponds. Collectively, this work highlights the role of beaver ponds as biological "hotspots" with unique biogeochemistry in fire-impacted systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Holly K Roth
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
| | - Amelia R Nelson
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amy M McKenna
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Ion Cyclotron Resonance Facility, Florida State University, FL, USA
| | - Timothy S Fegel
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Robert B Young
- Chemical Analysis & Instrumentation Laboratory, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, USA
| | - Charles C Rhoades
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, U.S. Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Michael J Wilkins
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Thomas Borch
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
- Department of Soil and Crop Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rust AJ, Roberts S, Eskelson M, Randell J, Hogue TS. Forest fire mobilization and uptake of metals by biota temporarily exacerbates impacts of legacy mining. Sci Total Environ 2022; 832:155034. [PMID: 35405224 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
While wildfires are a natural occurrence and ecosystems have evolved with fire, a changing climate is extending the wildfire season increasing the number, size and severity of fires in the western United States. In 2018, wildfire consumed 30% more area in the Western United States than the average ten years prior, and 76% more area than the average twenty years ago. These recent wildfires have impacted communities in the southwestern Rocky Mountains. In 2018, the 416 Fire, burned over 21,000 ha of public and private lands in southwestern Colorado. The 416 Fire is uniquely located in a legacy mine region in Colorado. The fire occurred in the Animas River watershed, which was already recovering from impacts of the Gold King Mine release of 2015. Three years of water quality monitoring after the 416 Fire have demonstrated elevated total and dissolved metal concentrations downstream of the burn area in Hermosa Creek and the Animas River. Following high-intensity rainstorm events, concentrations of metals such as aluminum, cadmium, iron, lead, manganese and zinc were significantly higher compared to pre-fire conditions in the burned watershed, and several metals often exceeded water quality standards for aquatic life. Macroinvertebrate monitoring in the Animas River and the main fire-impacted tributary indicate substantially altered insect communities. Macroinvertebrate tissue samples, with high concentrations of aluminum, iron, lead and nickel provide evidence that metals observed in the water column of fire-impacted streams were transferred to the benthic communities. In contrast, algae tissue from below the fire did not have elevated metals. High sediment volumes with absorbed metals from mineral rich and mined hillsides were transported to the streams and their aquatic ecosystems after the fire. Results from this study highlight the post-fire mobilization of naturally occurring metals to streams that already experience elevated metals from legacy mines, and will help in development of mitigation efforts in downstream communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J Rust
- Hydrologic Sciences and Engineering, 1500 Illinois Street, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America.
| | - Scott Roberts
- Mountain Studies Institute, 679 E. 2(nd) Avenue, Suite 8, Durango, CO 81301, United States of America
| | - Mandy Eskelson
- Mountain Studies Institute, 679 E. 2(nd) Avenue, Suite 8, Durango, CO 81301, United States of America
| | - Jackie Randell
- Hydrologic Sciences and Engineering, 1500 Illinois Street, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America
| | - Terri S Hogue
- Hydrologic Sciences and Engineering, 1500 Illinois Street, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1500 Illinois Street, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO 80401, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Parente J, Girona-García A, Lopes AR, Keizer JJ, Vieira DCS. Prediction, validation, and uncertainties of a nation-wide post-fire soil erosion risk assessment in Portugal. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2945. [PMID: 35190672 PMCID: PMC8861048 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07066-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildfires are a recurrent and increasing threat in mainland Portugal, where over 4.5 million hectares of forests and scrublands have burned over the last 38 years. These fire-affected landscapes have suffered an intensification of soil erosion processes, which can negatively affect soil carbon storage, reduce fertility and forest productivity, and can become a source of pollutants. The main objective of the present study is to produce a post-fire soil erosion risk map for the forest and shrubland areas in mainland Portugal and assess its reliability. To this end, the semi-empirical Morgan–Morgan–Finney erosion model was used to assess the potential post-fire soil erosion according to distinct burn severity and climate scenarios, and the accuracy of the predictions was verified by an uncertainty analysis and validated against independent field datasets. The proposed approach successfully allowed mapping post-fire soil erosion in Portugal and identified the areas with higher post-fire erosion risk for past and future climate extremes. The outcomes of this study comprise a set of tools to help forest managers in their decision-making for post-fire emergency stabilization, ensuring the adequate selection of areas for mitigation to minimize the economic and environmental losses caused by fire-enhanced soil erosion.
Collapse
|
7
|
Gannon BM, Wei Y, Thompson MP, Scott JH, Short KC. System Analysis of Wildfire-Water Supply Risk in Colorado, USA with Monte Carlo Wildfire and Rainfall Simulation. Risk Anal 2022; 42:406-424. [PMID: 34101865 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Water supply impairment from increased contaminant mobilization and transport after wildfire is a major concern for communities that rely on surface water from fire-prone watersheds. In this article we present a Monte Carlo simulation method to quantify the likelihood of wildfire impairing water supplies by combining stochastic representations of annual wildfire and rainfall activity. Water quality impairment was evaluated in terms of turbidity limits for treatment by modeling wildfire burn severity, postfire erosion, sediment transport, and suspended sediment dilution in receiving waterbodies. Water supply disruption was analyzed at the system level based on the impairment status of water supply components and their contributions to system performance. We used this approach to assess wildfire-water supply impairment and disruption risks for a system of water supply reservoirs and diversions in the Front Range Mountains of Colorado, USA. Our results indicate that wildfire may impair water quality in a concerning 15.7-19.4% of years for diversions from large watersheds. Reservoir impairment should be rare for off-network reservoirs-ranging from at most 0.01% of years for large reservoirs to nearly 2% of years for small reservoirs. System redundancy meaningfully reduced disruption risk for alternative conveyance routes (4.3-25.0% reduction) and almost eliminated disruption risk for a pair of substitutable terminal sources (99.9% reduction). In contrast, dependency among reservoirs on a conveyance route nearly doubled risk of disruption. Our results highlight the importance of considering water system characteristics when evaluating wildfire-water supply risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin M Gannon
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Yu Wei
- Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Matthew P Thompson
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Karen C Short
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service, Missoula, MT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sadat Lavasani M, Raeisi Ardali N, Sotudeh-Gharebagh R, Zarghami R, Abonyi J, Mostoufi N. Big data analytics opportunities for applications in process engineering. REV CHEM ENG 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/revce-2020-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Big data is an expression for massive data sets consisting of both structured and unstructured data that are particularly difficult to store, analyze and visualize. Big data analytics has the potential to help companies or organizations improve operations as well as disclose hidden patterns and secret correlations to make faster and intelligent decisions. This article provides useful information on this emerging and promising field for companies, industries, and researchers to gain a richer and deeper insight into advancements. Initially, an overview of big data content, key characteristics, and related topics are presented. The paper also highlights a systematic review of available big data techniques and analytics. The available big data analytics tools and platforms are categorized. Besides, this article discusses recent applications of big data in chemical industries to increase understanding and encourage its implementation in their engineering processes as much as possible. Finally, by emphasizing the adoption of big data analytics in various areas of process engineering, the aim is to provide a practical vision of big data.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitra Sadat Lavasani
- Process Design and Simulation Research Center , School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran , P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran , Iran
| | - Nahid Raeisi Ardali
- Process Design and Simulation Research Center , School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran , P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran , Iran
| | - Rahmat Sotudeh-Gharebagh
- Process Design and Simulation Research Center , School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran , P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran , Iran
| | - Reza Zarghami
- Process Design and Simulation Research Center , School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran , P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran , Iran
| | - János Abonyi
- Department of Process Engineering , MTA – PE “Lendület” Complex Systems Monitoring Research Group, University of Pannonia , P.O. Box 158 , Veszprém , Hungary
| | - Navid Mostoufi
- Process Design and Simulation Research Center , School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran , P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran , Iran
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ré A, Rocha AT, Campos I, Keizer JJ, Gonçalves FJM, Oliveira H, Pereira JL, Abrantes N. Cytotoxic effects of wildfire ashes: In-vitro responses of skin cells. Environ Pollut 2021; 285:117279. [PMID: 33971424 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires are a complex environmental problem worldwide. The ashes produced during the fire bear metals and PAHs with high toxicity and environmental persistence. These are mobilized into downhill waterbodies, where they can impair water quality and human health. In this context, the present study aimed at assessing the toxicity of mimicked wildfire runoff to human skin cells, providing a first view on the human health hazardous potential of such matrices. Human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were exposed to aqueous extracts of ashes (AEA) prepared from ash deposited in the soil after wildfires burned a pine or a eucalypt forest stand. Cytotoxicity (MTT assay) and changes in cell cycle dynamics (flow cytometry) were assessed. Cell viability decreased with increasing concentrations of AEA, regardless of the ash source, the extracts preparation method (filtered or unfiltered to address the dissolved or the total fractions of contaminants, respectively) or the exposure period (24 and 48 h). The cells growth was also negatively affected by the tested AEA matrices, as evidenced by a deceleration of the progress through the cell cycle, namely from phase G0/G1 to G2. The cytotoxicity of AEA could be related to particulate and dissolved metal content, but the particles themselves may directly affect the cell membrane. Eucalypt ash was apparently more cytotoxic than pine ash due to differential ash metal burden and mobility to the water phase. The deceleration of the cell cycle can be explained by the attempt of cells to repair metal-induced DNA damage, while if this checkpoint and repair pathways are not well coordinated by metal interference, genomic instability may occur. Globally, our results trigger public health concerns since the burnt areas frequently stand in slopes of watershed that serve as recreation sites and sources of drinking water, thus promoting human exposure to wildfire-driven contamination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Ré
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | | | - Isabel Campos
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Jan Jacob Keizer
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Fernando J M Gonçalves
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Helena Oliveira
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Luísa Pereira
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
| | - Nelson Abrantes
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Robinne F, Hallema DW, Bladon KD, Flannigan MD, Boisramé G, Bréthaut CM, Doerr SH, Di Baldassarre G, Gallagher LA, Hohner AK, Khan SJ, Kinoshita AM, Mordecai R, Nunes JP, Nyman P, Santín C, Sheridan G, Stoof CR, Thompson MP, Waddington JM, Wei Y. Scientists' warning on extreme wildfire risks to water supply. Hydrol Process 2021; 35:e14086. [PMID: 34248273 PMCID: PMC8251805 DOI: 10.1002/hyp.14086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
2020 is the year of wildfire records. California experienced its three largest fires early in its fire season. The Pantanal, the largest wetland on the planet, burned over 20% of its surface. More than 18 million hectares of forest and bushland burned during the 2019-2020 fire season in Australia, killing 33 people, destroying nearly 2500 homes, and endangering many endemic species. The direct cost of damages is being counted in dozens of billion dollars, but the indirect costs on water-related ecosystem services and benefits could be equally expensive, with impacts lasting for decades. In Australia, the extreme precipitation ("200 mm day -1 in several location") that interrupted the catastrophic wildfire season triggered a series of watershed effects from headwaters to areas downstream. The increased runoff and erosion from burned areas disrupted water supplies in several locations. These post-fire watershed hazards via source water contamination, flash floods, and mudslides can represent substantial, systemic long-term risks to drinking water production, aquatic life, and socio-economic activity. Scenarios similar to the recent event in Australia are now predicted to unfold in the Western USA. This is a new reality that societies will have to live with as uncharted fire activity, water crises, and widespread human footprint collide all-around of the world. Therefore, we advocate for a more proactive approach to wildfire-watershed risk governance in an effort to advance and protect water security. We also argue that there is no easy solution to reducing this risk and that investments in both green (i.e., natural) and grey (i.e., built) infrastructure will be necessary. Further, we propose strategies to combine modern data analytics with existing tools for use by water and land managers worldwide to leverage several decades worth of data and knowledge on post-fire hydrology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dennis W. Hallema
- Department of Forestry and Environmental ResourcesNorth Carolina State UniversityRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Kevin D. Bladon
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and ManagementOregon State UniversityCorvallisOregonUSA
| | - Mike D. Flannigan
- Canadian Partnership for Wildland Fire ScienceUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonAlbertaCanada
| | - Gabrielle Boisramé
- Division of Hydrologic SciencesDesert Research InstituteLas VegasNevadaUSA
| | | | - Stefan H. Doerr
- Geography and Biosciences Departments, College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | | | | | - Amanda K. Hohner
- Department of Civil and Environmental EngineeringWashington State UniversityPullmanWashingtonUSA
| | - Stuart J. Khan
- School of Civil & Environmental EngineeringUniversity of New South WalesKensingtonNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Alicia M. Kinoshita
- Department of Civil, Construction, & Environmental EngineeringSan Diego State UniversitySan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Rua Mordecai
- South Atlantic Landscape Conservation CooperativeUnited States Fish and Wildlife ServiceRaleighNorth CarolinaUSA
- CE3C – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de CiênciasUniversidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - João Pedro Nunes
- Department of Environmental SciencesWageningen UniversityWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Petter Nyman
- Alluvium Consulting AustraliaCremorneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Cristina Santín
- Geography and Biosciences Departments, College of ScienceSwansea UniversitySwanseaUK
| | - Gary Sheridan
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | - Cathelijne R. Stoof
- Department of Environmental SciencesWageningen UniversityWageningenthe Netherlands
| | - Matthew P. Thompson
- Rocky Mountain Research Station, Human DimensionsUSDA Forest ServiceFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - James M. Waddington
- School of Earth, Environment & SocietyMcMaster UniversityHamiltonOntarioCanada
| | - Yu Wei
- Department of Forest and Rangeland StewardshipColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
Wildfires are increasing globally in frequency, severity, and extent, but their impact on fluvial networks, and the resources they provide, remains unclear. We combine remote sensing of burn perimeter and severity, in-situ water quality monitoring, and longitudinal modeling to create the first large-scale, long-term estimates of stream+river length impacted by wildfire for the western US. We find that wildfires directly impact ~6% of the total stream+river length between 1984 and 2014, increasing at a rate of 342 km/year. When longitudinal propagation of water quality impacts is included, we estimate that wildfires affect ~11% of the total stream+river length. Our results indicate that wildfire activity is one of the largest drivers of aquatic impairment, though it is not routinely reported by regulatory agencies, as wildfire impacts on fluvial networks remain unconstrained. We identify key actions to address this knowledge gap and better understand the growing threat to fluvial networks, water security, and public health risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grady Ball
- Water Resources Graduate Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Peter Regier
- Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
| | - Ricardo González-Pinzón
- Department of Civil, Construction & Environmental Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| | - Justin Reale
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - David Van Horn
- Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
|
13
|
Uzun H, Zhang W, Olivares CI, Erdem CU, Coates TA, Karanfil T, Chow AT. Effect of prescribed fires on the export of dissolved organic matter, precursors of disinfection by-products, and water treatability. Water Res 2020; 187:116385. [PMID: 32949825 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we report for the first time the effect of prescribed fires on the export of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and precursors of disinfectant by-products (DBPs) from periodically (every 2-3 years) and seasonally (i.e., dormant and growing) burned forest fuel materials (i.e., live vegetation, woody debris, and detritus [litter and duff]) and treatability of its rainwater leachate. Periodically applied (every 2-3 years for 40 years) prescribed fires decreased total fuel load (62±10%), primarily detrital mass (75±2%). However, functional groups (i.e., phenolic compounds, proteins, carbohydrates, aromatic [1-ring], polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs], and lipids) attached to DOM of ground solid materials did not change significantly. Outside rainwater leaching (from forest fuel materials) experiments showed that the leaching capacity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from burned litter samples decreased by 40±20% regardless of burning season when compared to unburned litter samples. The leaching of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), ammonium (NH4+), and reactive phosphorus (PO43-) from burned materials decreased between 40 and 70% when compared to unburned materials. Also, DOM composition was affected by prescribed fire, which partially consumed humic-like substances based on fluorescence analyses. Thus, periodically applied prescribed fires also resulted in a reduction of trihalomethane (THM) (42±23%) and haloacetic acid (HAA) (42±20%) formation potentials (FPs), while DOC normalized reactivity of THM and HAA FPs did not change significantly. Additionally, the leaching of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) precursors, bromide ion (Br-), and selected elements (K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Fe, S, Na, B, and Al) were not significantly affected by prescribed fires. Finally, coagulant (i.e., alum and ferric) dose requirements and coagulation efficiencies were similar (i.e., removal of DOC, precursors of THMs and HAAs were 52-56%, 69-70%, 78-79%, respectively) in unburned and pre-burned leachate samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Habibullah Uzun
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul 34722, Turkey
| | - Wenbo Zhang
- Biogeochemistry & Environmental Quality Research Group, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC 29442, United States
| | - Christopher I Olivares
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Cagri Utku Erdem
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina 29625, United States
| | - T Adam Coates
- Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, United States
| | - Tanju Karanfil
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina 29625, United States
| | - Alex T Chow
- Biogeochemistry & Environmental Quality Research Group, Clemson University, Georgetown, SC 29442, United States; Department of Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina 29625, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Murphy SF, McCleskey RB, Martin DA, Holloway JM, Writer JH. Wildfire-driven changes in hydrology mobilize arsenic and metals from legacy mine waste. Sci Total Environ 2020; 743:140635. [PMID: 32663689 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Wildfires burning in watersheds that have been mined and since revegetated pose unique risks to downstream water supplies. A wildfire near Boulder, Colorado, that burned a forested watershed recovering from mining disturbance that occurred 80-160 years ago allowed us to 1) assess arsenic and metal contamination in streams draining the burned area for a five-year period after the wildfire and 2) determine the fire-affected hydrologic drivers that convey arsenic and metals to surface water. Most metal concentrations were low in the circumneutral waters draining the burned area. Water and sediment collected from streams downstream of the burned area had elevated arsenic concentrations during and after post-fire storms. Mining-related deposits were the main source of arsenic to streams. An increased proportion of overland flow relative to infiltration after the fire mobilized arsenic- and metal-rich surface deposits, along with wildfire ash and soil, into streams within and downstream of the burned area. The deposition of this material into stream channels resulted in the remobilization of arsenic for the five-year post-fire study period. It is also possible that enhanced subsurface flow after the fire increased contact of water with arsenic-bearing minerals exposed in underground mine workings. Other studies have reported that wildfire ash can be an important source of arsenic and metals to surface waters, but wildfire ash was not a major source of arsenic in this study. Predicted increases in frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires in the western U.S., a region with widely dispersed historical mines, suggest that the intersection of legacy mining and post-wildfire hydrologic response poses an increasing risk for water supplies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheila F Murphy
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303, United States of America.
| | - R Blaine McCleskey
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303, United States of America
| | - Deborah A Martin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area, 3215 Marine Street Suite E-127, Boulder, CO 80303, United States of America
| | - JoAnn M Holloway
- U.S. Geological Survey, Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center, One Denver Federal Center, Building 20, MS 973, Denver, CO 80225, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey H Writer
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering and School of Education, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Argyroudis SA, Mitoulis SA, Hofer L, Zanini MA, Tubaldi E, Frangopol DM. Resilience assessment framework for critical infrastructure in a multi-hazard environment: Case study on transport assets. Sci Total Environ 2020; 714:136854. [PMID: 32018987 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The exposure of critical infrastructure to natural and human-induced hazards has severe consequences on world economies and societies. Therefore, resilience assessment of infrastructure assets to extreme events and sequences of diverse hazards is of paramount importance for maintaining their functionality. Yet, the resilience assessment commonly assumes single hazards and ignores alternative approaches and decisions in the restoration strategy. It has now been established that infrastructure owners and operators consider different factors in their restoration strategies depending on the available resources and their priorities, the importance of the asset and the level of damage. Currently, no integrated framework that accounts for the nature and sequence of multiple hazards and their impacts, the different strategies of restoration, and hence the quantification of resilience in that respect exists and this is an acknowledged gap that needs urgently filling. This paper provides, for the first time in the literature, a classification of multiple hazard sequences considering their nature and impacts. Subsequently, a novel framework for the quantitative resilience assessment of critical infrastructure, subjected to multiple hazards is proposed, considering the vulnerability of the assets to hazard actions, and the rapidity of the damage recovery, including the temporal variability of the hazards. The study puts forward a well-informed asset resilience index, which accounts for the full, partial or no restoration of asset damage between the subsequent hazard occurrences. The proposed framework is then applied on a typical highway bridge, which is exposed to realistic multiple hazard scenarios, considering pragmatic restoration strategies. The case study concludes that there is a significant effect of the occurrence time of the second hazard on the resilience index and a considerable error when using simple superimposition of resilience indices from different hazards, even when they are independent in terms of occurrence. This potentially concerns all critical infrastructure assets and, hence, this paper provides useful insights for the resilience-based design and management of infrastructure throughout their lifetime, leading to cost savings and improved services. The paper concludes with a demonstration of the importance of the framework and how this can be utilised to estimate the resilience of networks to provide a quantification of the resilience at a regional and country scale.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sotirios A Argyroudis
- Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey, UK; Dept. of Civil Engineering, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | | | - Lorenzo Hofer
- Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Mariano Angelo Zanini
- Dept. of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Enrico Tubaldi
- Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Strathclyde, UK
| | - Dan M Frangopol
- Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Research Center for Advanced Technology for Large Structural Systems (ATLSS Center), Lehigh University, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wu Y, Zhang N, Slater G, Waddington JM, de Lannoy CF. Hydrophobicity of peat soils: Characterization of organic compound changes associated with heat-induced water repellency. Sci Total Environ 2020; 714:136444. [PMID: 31986381 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Boreal peatlands provide critical global and regional ecosystem functions including climate regulation and nutrient and water retention. Wildfire represents the largest disturbance to these ecosystems. Peatland resilience depends greatly on the extent of post-fire peat soil hydrophobicity. Climate change is altering wildfire intensity and severity and consequently impacting post-fire peat soil chemistry and structure. However, research on fire-impacted peatlands has rarely considered the influence of peat soil chemistry and structure on peatland resilience. Here we characterized the geochemical and physical properties of natural peat soils under laboratory heating conditions. The general trend observed is that hydrophilic peat soils become hydrophobic under moderate heating and then become hydrophilic again after heating for longer, or at higher, temperatures. The loss of peat soil hydrophilicity initially occurs due to evaporative water loss (250 °C and 300 °C for <5 min). Gently but thoroughly dried peat soils (105 °C for 24 h) also show mass losses after heating, indicating the loss of organic compounds through thermal degradation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the chemistry of unburned and 300 °C burned peat soils, and various fatty acids, polycyclic compounds, saccharides, aromatic acids, short-chain molecules, lignin and carbohydrates were identified. We determined that the heat-induced degradation of polycyclic compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbons, especially fatty acids, caused dried, hydrophobic peat soils to become hydrophilic after only 20 min of heating at 300 °C. Furthermore, peat soils became hydrophilic more quickly (20 min vs 6 h) with an increase in heat from 250 °C to 300 °C. Minimal structural changes occurred, as characterized by BET and SEM analyses, confirming that surface chemistry, in particular fatty acid content, rather than structure govern changes in peat soil hydrophobicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Wu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nan Zhang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Greg Slater
- School of Geography & Earth Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
17
|
Busico G, Giuditta E, Kazakis N, Colombani N. A Hybrid GIS and AHP Approach for Modelling Actual and Future Forest Fire Risk Under Climate Change Accounting Water Resources Attenuation Role. Sustainability 2019; 11:7166. [DOI: 10.3390/su11247166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Forest wildfires usually occur due to natural processes such as lightning and volcanic eruptions, but at the same time they are also an effect of uncontrolled and illegal anthropogenic activities. Different factors can influence forest wildfires, like the type of vegetation, morphology, climate, and proximity to human activities. A precise evaluation of forest fire issues and of the countermeasures needed to limit their impact could be satisfactory especially when forest fire risk (FFR) mapping is available. Here, we proposed an FFR evaluation methodology based on Geographic Information System (GIS) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The study area is the Campania region (Southern Italy) that, for the last 30 years, has been affected by numerous wildfires. The proposed methodology analyzed 12 factors, and AHP was used for weight assignment, offering a new approach to some parameters. The method divided the study area into five risk classes, from very low to very high. Validation with fire alerts showed a good correlation between observed and predicted fires (0.79 R2). Analyzing the climate projections, a future FFR for 2040 was also assessed. The proposed methodology represents a reliable screening tool to identify areas under forest fire risk, and can help authorities to direct preventive actions.
Collapse
|
18
|
Bladon KD, Bywater-Reyes S, LeBoldus JM, Keriö S, Segura C, Ritóková G, Shaw DC. Increased streamflow in catchments affected by a forest disease epidemic. Sci Total Environ 2019; 691:112-123. [PMID: 31319249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2019] [Revised: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Natural disturbances help maintain healthy forested and aquatic ecosystems. However, biotic and abiotic disturbance regimes are changing rapidly. For example, the Swiss needle cast (SNC) epidemic in the Coast Range of Oregon in the U.S. Pacific Northwest has increased in area from 53,050 to 238,705ha over the 1996-2015 period. We investigated whether the hydrologic regime (i.e., annual streamflow, runoff ratio, and magnitude and timing of peak flows and low flows) was affected by SNC in 12 catchments in western Oregon. The catchments ranged in size from 183 to 1834km2 and area affected by SNC from 0 to 90.5%. To maximize the number of catchments included in the study, we analyzed 20years of SNC aerial survey data and 15-26years of stream discharge (Q) and PRISM precipitation (P) and air temperature (Tair) data to test for trends in hydrologic variables for each catchment. As expected, we found that runoff ratios (Q/P) increased in five catchments, all with an area impacted by SNC >10%. This was likely due to the effects of SNC on the hydraulic architecture (i.e., needle retention, sapwood area, sapwood permeability) of affected trees, leading to decreased canopy interception and transpiration losses. Interestingly, two catchments with the greatest area affected by SNC showed no changes in hydrologic regime. The lack of hydrologic response could either be due to compensatory transpiration by vegetation unaffected by the disease or sub-canopy abiotic evaporation, which counteracted reductions in transpiration. This study is the first to illustrate that chronic canopy disturbance from a foliage pathogen can influence catchment scale hydrology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin D Bladon
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, 280 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Sharon Bywater-Reyes
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, 280 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Northern Colorado, 501 20th St Box 100, Greeley, CO, 80639, USA
| | - Jared M LeBoldus
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, 280 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA; Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, 2701 SW Campus Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Susanna Keriö
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, 2082 Cordley Hall, 2701 SW Campus Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Catalina Segura
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, 280 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Gabriela Ritóková
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, 280 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - David C Shaw
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management, 280 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Robinne F, Bladon KD, Silins U, Emelko MB, Flannigan MD, Parisien M, Wang X, Kienzle SW, Dupont DP. A Regional-Scale Index for Assessing the Exposure of Drinking-Water Sources to Wildfires. Forests 2019; 10:384. [DOI: 10.3390/f10050384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Recent human-interface wildfires around the world have raised concerns regarding the reliability of freshwater supply flowing from severely burned watersheds. Degraded source water quality can often be expected after severe wildfire and can pose challenges to drinking water facilities by straining treatment response capacities, increasing operating costs, and jeopardizing their ability to supply consumers. Identifying source watersheds that are dangerously exposed to post-wildfire hydrologic changes is important for protecting community drinking-water supplies from contamination risks that may lead to service disruptions. This study presents a spatial index of watershed exposure to wildfires in the province of Alberta, Canada, where growing water demands coupled with increasing fire activity threaten municipal drinking-water supplies. Using a multi-criteria analysis design, we integrated information regarding provincial forest cover, fire danger, source water volume, source-water origin (i.e., forested/un-forested), and population served. We found that (1) >2/3 of the population of the province relies on drinking-water supplies originating in forested watersheds, (2) forest cover is the most important variable controlling final exposure scores, and (3) watersheds supplying small drinking water treatment plants are particularly exposed, especially in central Alberta. The index can help regional authorities prioritize the allocation of risk management resources to mitigate adverse impacts from wildfire. The flexible design of this tool readily allows its deployment at larger national and continental scales to inform broader water security frameworks.
Collapse
|
20
|
Martin DA. Linking fire and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sci Total Environ 2019; 662:547-558. [PMID: 30699375 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Fire is a ubiquitous natural disturbance that affects 3-4% of the Earth's surface each year. It is a tool used by humans for land clearing and burning of agricultural wastes. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) do not explicitly mention fire, though many of the Goals are affected by the beneficial and adverse consequences of fires on ecosystem services. There are at least three compelling reasons to include a fire perspective in the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The first reason relates to the stated vision of the United Nations 2030 Agenda to protect the environment. In order to achieve environmental protection during sustainable development activities, it is necessary to understand and plan for the effects of disturbances, in this case fire, on ecosystem services. The second reason is that fires produce emissions with regional and global impacts on air quality and rainfall patterns. Fires contribute to global warming though the release greenhouse gases, primarily CO2, and black carbon, identified as a SLCP (short-lived climate pollutant). The third reason is that fire is one of several complex processes that lead to land degradation across the globe. Opportunities exist to incorporate a fire perspective into sustainable development projects or approaches. Two examples are highlighted here. Transdisciplinary communication and collaboration are needed to address the complex issues related to fire, and to climate and land use change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A Martin
- Research Hydrologist, Emerita, U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Słowiński M, Lamentowicz M, Łuców D, Barabach J, Brykała D, Tyszkowski S, Pieńczewska A, Śnieszko Z, Dietze E, Jażdżewski K, Obremska M, Ott F, Brauer A, Marcisz K. Paleoecological and historical data as an important tool in ecosystem management. J Environ Manage 2019; 236:755-768. [PMID: 30776550 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In recent decades, it has been observed that most forest fires in Europe were caused by people. Extreme droughts, which are more often prolonged, can increase the risk of forest fires, not only in southern Europe but also, in Central Europe. Nonetheless, catastrophic fire events are not well recognized in the Central European Lowlands (CEL), where large forest complexes are located. Knowledge of past fire activity in this part of Europe is scarce, although several fires have occurred in this area during the previous millennia. Large coniferous forest monocultures located in the CEL are highly susceptible to fires and other disturbances. Here, we present a case study from the Tuchola Pinewoods (TP; northern Poland), where large pine monocultures are present. The main aim of this study is to document the potential effects past land management has on modern day disturbance regimes using state-of-the-art paleoecological data, historical documents and cartographic materials. We then present a protocol that will help forest managers utilize long-term paleoecological records. Based on paleoecological investigations, historical documents, and cartographic materials, our results show that, in the past 300 years, the TP witnessed not only disastrous fires and but also windfalls by tornados and insect outbreaks. A change in management from Polish to Prussian/German in the 18th century led to the transformation of mixed forests into Scots pine monocultures with the purpose to allow better economic use of the forest. Those administrative decisions led to an ecosystem highly susceptible to disturbances. This article provides a critical review of past forest management as well as future research directions related to the impacts of fire risk on land management and ecosystem services: (a) habitat composition and structure (biodiversity); (b) natural water management; and (c) mitigation of climate changes. Designated forest conditions, management, and future fire risk are a controversial and highly debated topic of forest management by Forestry Units. More research will allow the gathering of reliable information pertinent to management practices with regard to the current fire risks. It is necessary to develop a dialog between scientists and managers to reduce the risk of fires in projected climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michał Słowiński
- Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organisation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Mariusz Lamentowicz
- Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Monitoring & Department of Biogeography and Paleoecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dominika Łuców
- Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organisation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland; Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Monitoring & Department of Biogeography and Paleoecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680, Poznań, Poland
| | - Jan Barabach
- Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Monitoring & Department of Biogeography and Paleoecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680, Poznań, Poland
| | - Dariusz Brykała
- Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organisation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian Tyszkowski
- Department of Environmental Resources and Geohazards, Institute of Geography and Spatial Organisation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Pieńczewska
- Institute of Geography, Kazimierz Wielki University, Pl. Kościeleckich 8, 85-033, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Zbigniew Śnieszko
- Institute of Geography, Kazimierz Wielki University, Pl. Kościeleckich 8, 85-033, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Elisabeth Dietze
- Alfred-Wegener-Institute Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Research Unit Potsdam, Telegrafenberg, D-14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | | | - Milena Obremska
- Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00-818, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Florian Ott
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section 5.2 - Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution, Telegrafenberg C, D-14473, Potsdam, Germany; Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, Kahlaische Str. 10, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Achim Brauer
- GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, Section 5.2 - Climate Dynamics and Landscape Evolution, Telegrafenberg C, D-14473, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Katarzyna Marcisz
- Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Monitoring & Department of Biogeography and Paleoecology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Bogumiła Krygowskiego 10, 61-680, Poznań, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Santín C, Otero XL, Doerr SH, Chafer CJ. Impact of a moderate/high-severity prescribed eucalypt forest fire on soil phosphorous stocks and partitioning. Sci Total Environ 2018; 621:1103-1114. [PMID: 29103642 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.10.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study examines the direct impact of a moderate/high-severity prescribed fire on phosphorous (P) stocks and partitioning in oligotrophic soils of a dry eucalypt forest within Sydney's water supply catchments, Australia. We also quantify and characterize the P present in the ash produced in this fire, and explore its relationships with the maximum temperatures recorded in the litter layer during the burn. In these oligotrophic soils, P concentrations were already relatively low before the fire (<130mgkg-1, mainly in organic forms). The fire consumed the entire litter layer and the thin Oa soil horizon, creating 6.3±3.1tha-1 of ash, and resulted into direct net P losses of ~7kgha-1. The P lost was mostly organic and there was a moderate net gain of inorganic and non-reactive P forms. Importantly, only a small proportion of the post-fire P was bioavailable (equivalent to ~3% of the total P lost during fire). Higher total P concentrations in ash corresponded with higher maximum temperatures (>650°C) recorded in the burning litter layer, but effects of fire temperature on ash P partitioning were not significant. Fire not only transformed P chemically, but also physically. Our results show that, immediately after fire, up to 2kgha-1 of P was present in the ash layer and, therefore, highly erodible and susceptible to be transported off-site by wind- and water erosion. Even if most of this P was, initially, of low bioavailability, its transfer to depositional environments with different geochemical conditions (e.g. anoxic sediments in water reservoirs) can alter its geochemical forms and availability. Further investigation of potential P transformations off-site is therefore essential, particularly given that SE-Australian water supply catchments are subject to recurrent perturbation by prescribed fire and wildfires. The latter have already resulted in major algal blooms in water supply reservoirs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Santín
- Department of Geography, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK; Department of Bioscience, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK.
| | - Xose L Otero
- Department of Edaphology and Agricultural Chemistry, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Stefan H Doerr
- Department of Geography, College of Science, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Chris J Chafer
- Water New South Wales, 2-6 Station Street, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Hallema DW, Sun G, Caldwell PV, Norman SP, Cohen EC, Liu Y, Bladon KD, McNulty SG. Burned forests impact water supplies. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1307. [PMID: 29636465 PMCID: PMC5893570 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03735-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Wildland fire impacts on surface freshwater resources have not previously been measured, nor factored into regional water management strategies. But, large wildland fires are increasing and raise concerns about fire impacts on potable water. Here we synthesize long-term records of wildland fire, climate, and river flow for 168 locations across the United States. We show that annual river flow changed in 32 locations, where more than 19% of the basin area was burned. Wildland fires enhanced annual river flow in the western regions with a warm temperate or humid continental climate. Wildland fires increased annual river flow most in the semi-arid Lower Colorado region, in spite of frequent droughts in this region. In contrast, prescribed burns in the subtropical Southeast did not significantly alter river flow. These extremely variable outcomes offer new insights into the potential role of wildfire and prescribed fire in regional water resource management, under a changing climate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dennis W Hallema
- Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture Center II, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA. .,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Department of Energy, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN, 37830, USA.
| | - Ge Sun
- Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture Center II, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA.
| | - Peter V Caldwell
- Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 3160 Coweeta Lab Rd, Otto, NC, 28763, USA
| | - Steven P Norman
- Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 200 W.T. Weaver Blvd, Asheville, NC, 28804, USA
| | - Erika C Cohen
- Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture Center II, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| | - Yongqiang Liu
- Center for Forest Disturbance Science, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 320 Green Street, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Kevin D Bladon
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources and Management, Oregon State University, 265 Peavy Hall, 3100 SW Jefferson Way, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Steven G McNulty
- Eastern Forest Environmental Threat Assessment Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Southern Research Station, 920 Main Campus Drive, Venture Center II, Suite 300, Raleigh, NC, 27606, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
|