Run-off from a small Mediterranean watershed after a forest fire

Abstract

This paper is intended to assess the impact of a forest fire on the flows through a small, 150 hectare basin. The changes in the flows are assessed by comparing observations and the results of various models relating the flow to the rainfall, that are presumed to represent the behaviour of the basin before the fire. This shows that the annual flow increased by about 15% with respect to the rainfall, mainly during flood periods. The peak flows can, however, vary to a much greater extent due to the combined effects of greatly increased production from the basin and reduction in transit time.