A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data

Abstract Wildfire is a global phenomenon that has dramatic effects on erosion and flood potential. On steep slopes, burned areas are more likely to experience significant overland flow during heavy rainfall leading to post fire debris flows (PFDFs). Previous work establishes methods for PFDF hazard...

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Main Authors: Elijah Orland, Dalia Kirschbaum, Thomas Stanley
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-09-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099850
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author Elijah Orland
Dalia Kirschbaum
Thomas Stanley
author_facet Elijah Orland
Dalia Kirschbaum
Thomas Stanley
author_sort Elijah Orland
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Wildfire is a global phenomenon that has dramatic effects on erosion and flood potential. On steep slopes, burned areas are more likely to experience significant overland flow during heavy rainfall leading to post fire debris flows (PFDFs). Previous work establishes methods for PFDF hazard assessment, often relying on regional‐scale parameterizations with in‐situ rainfall measurements to categorize hazard as a function of meteorological and surface properties. We present a globally scalable approach to extend the benefit these models provide to new areas. Our new model relies on publicly available satellite‐based inputs with a global extent to provide first order hazard assessments of recently burned areas. Our results show it is possible to identify the conditions relevant for PFDF‐initiation processes across a variety of physiographic settings. Improvements to satellite‐borne rainfall intensity data and increased availability of PFDF occurrence data worldwide are expected to enhance model skill and applicability further.
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spelling doaj-art-fb42533394dc4e99b5c2e1b4694852e22025-08-20T02:10:43ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072022-09-014918n/an/a10.1029/2022GL099850A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation DataElijah Orland0Dalia Kirschbaum1Thomas Stanley2University of Maryland Baltimore County GESTAR II Baltimore MD USAEarth Sciences Division NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt MD USAUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County GESTAR II Baltimore MD USAAbstract Wildfire is a global phenomenon that has dramatic effects on erosion and flood potential. On steep slopes, burned areas are more likely to experience significant overland flow during heavy rainfall leading to post fire debris flows (PFDFs). Previous work establishes methods for PFDF hazard assessment, often relying on regional‐scale parameterizations with in‐situ rainfall measurements to categorize hazard as a function of meteorological and surface properties. We present a globally scalable approach to extend the benefit these models provide to new areas. Our new model relies on publicly available satellite‐based inputs with a global extent to provide first order hazard assessments of recently burned areas. Our results show it is possible to identify the conditions relevant for PFDF‐initiation processes across a variety of physiographic settings. Improvements to satellite‐borne rainfall intensity data and increased availability of PFDF occurrence data worldwide are expected to enhance model skill and applicability further.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099850wildfiredebris flowsmass wastingremote sensingmachine learningIMERG
spellingShingle Elijah Orland
Dalia Kirschbaum
Thomas Stanley
A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data
Geophysical Research Letters
wildfire
debris flows
mass wasting
remote sensing
machine learning
IMERG
title A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data
title_full A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data
title_fullStr A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data
title_full_unstemmed A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data
title_short A Scalable Framework for Post Fire Debris Flow Hazard Assessment Using Satellite Precipitation Data
title_sort scalable framework for post fire debris flow hazard assessment using satellite precipitation data
topic wildfire
debris flows
mass wasting
remote sensing
machine learning
IMERG
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL099850
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