RAPID: Fires in coastal California: Watershed and ecological responses to an acute environmental disturbance

2008年和2009年，大圣巴巴拉地区的山麓和山脉发生了三起重大火灾，均发生在流域内，持续多年的测量结果表明。由于预计在2009-2010年厄尔尼诺现象期间将出现高降雨量，烧毁的生态系统将在今年表现出最大的反应，并提供一个极好的机会来研究火灾对陆地和河流生态系统的影响。将测量被烧毁和未被烧毁的流域的短期变化，比较火灾对各种生态和环境反应的影响，这些反应包括：河流流量和沉积物和养分的输出、土壤运动和滑坡、利用高分辨率遥感在流域尺度和通过直接测量再生植物在横断面尺度上恢复植被以及河流生物群和生态系统过程。建模将允许预测火灾后一系列气候条件下的洪水、土壤运动和溪水水质。这些信息将对自然资源管理者和公共安全官员有价值。参加公开会议将进一步传播调查结果。此外，三名研究生和四名本科生将在流域生态、水文学和管理方面获得宝贵的经验。

Three major fires occurred in the foothills and mountains above the greater Santa Barbara area in 2008 and 2009, all within watersheds with on-going, multiyear measurements. Because high rainfall is expected during the El Nino conditions forecasted for 2009-2010, burned ecosystems will show their greatest responses this year and afford an excellent opportunity to examine the effects of fire on terrestrial and stream ecosystems. Measurements will be made of short-term changes in burned and unburned watersheds, comparing the influence of fires on a variety of ecological and environmental responses including: stream discharge and the export of sediment and nutrients, soil movement and landslides, re-growth of vegetation at the watershed-scale using high resolution remote sensing and at the transect-scale by direct measurements of re-sprouting plants, and stream biota and ecosystem processes. Modeling will permit prediction of flooding, soil movements, and stream water quality across a range of climatic conditions during post-fire periods. This information will be of value to natural resource managers and public safety officials. Participation in public meetings will further disseminate the findings. In addition, three graduate and four undergraduate students will gain invaluable experience in watershed ecology, hydrology and management.