Sign in to use this feature.

Years

Between: -

Subjects

remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline
remove_circle_outline

Journals

Article Types

Countries / Regions

Search Results (29)

Search Parameters:
Keywords = wetland definitions

Order results
Result details
Results per page
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
21 pages, 1260 KiB  
Review
Comprehensive Overview Assessment on Legal Guarantee System of Wetland Carbon Sink Trading for One Belt and One Road Initiative
by Jingjing Min, Wanwu Yuan, Wei He, Pingping Luo, Hanming Zhang and Yang Zhao
Land 2025, 14(8), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081583 - 3 Aug 2025
Abstract
The countries and regions along the Belt and Road are rich in wetland carbon sink resources, crucial for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and achieving global emission reduction. This paper uses policy analysis and desk research to analyze the overview of wetland carbon sinks [...] Read more.
The countries and regions along the Belt and Road are rich in wetland carbon sink resources, crucial for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and achieving global emission reduction. This paper uses policy analysis and desk research to analyze the overview of wetland carbon sinks in these countries. It explores the necessity of legal system construction for their carbon sink trading. This study finds that smooth trading requires clear property rights definition rules, efficient market trading entities, definite carbon sink trading price rules, financial support aligned with the Equator Principles, and support from biodiversity-compatible environmental regulatory principles. Currently, there are still obstacles in wetland carbon sink trading in the Belt and Road, such as property rights confirmation, an accounting system, an imperfect market trading mechanism, and the coexistence of multiple trading risks. Therefore, this paper first proposes to clarify the goal of the legal guarantee mechanism. Efforts should focus on promoting a consensus on wetland carbon sink ownership and establishing a unified accounting standard system; simultaneously, the relevant departments should conduct field investigations and monitoring, standardize the market order, and strengthen government financial support and funding guarantees. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 1372 KiB  
Review
Research Overview on Isolated Wetlands
by Yingpu Wang, Mingjie Zhao, Wenhan Pei, Qiang Guan, Jiafu Liu, Yanhui Chen, Jiping Liu and Qiyue Zhang
Water 2025, 17(13), 2013; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17132013 - 4 Jul 2025
Viewed by 409
Abstract
Isolated wetlands, as a unique type of wetland, play a key ecological role in hydrological regulation, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation. Although many studies have been conducted on the monitoring and ecological function assessment of isolated wetlands, a comprehensive and critical review is [...] Read more.
Isolated wetlands, as a unique type of wetland, play a key ecological role in hydrological regulation, carbon storage, and biodiversity conservation. Although many studies have been conducted on the monitoring and ecological function assessment of isolated wetlands, a comprehensive and critical review is still lacking. Through a systematic analysis of the literature from the past two decades, we found despite the large number of existing studies on isolated wetlands, direct comparison between them is often difficult due to differences in definitions. Second, human activities and climate change are the primary factors affecting wetland hydrology and leading to wetland isolation in the short term. Third, remote sensing and landscape models serve as basic tools for monitoring and analyzing isolated wetlands, but the low temporal and spatial accuracy of relevant data, along with the short research time spans, limit in-depth studies. Finally, isolated wetlands have multiple ecological functions that exhibit spatial heterogeneity and change over time. In summary, isolated wetlands have indispensable ecological functions that are currently underestimated. It is necessary to scientifically define the concept of isolated wetlands, improve the capability and accuracy of long-term dynamic monitoring, and conduct multi-functional coupling research in the future. Additionally, when formulating future wetland protection and management strategies, attention should be paid to isolated wetlands, and the temporal and spatial differences in their ecological benefits should be considered. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Ecohydrology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1956 KiB  
Article
Discovery of an Intact Quaternary Paleosol, Georgia Bight, USA
by Ervan G. Garrison, Matthew A. Newton, Benjamin Prueitt, Emily Carter Jones and Debra A. Willard
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6859; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126859 - 18 Jun 2025
Viewed by 433
Abstract
A previously buried paleosol was found on the continental shelf during a study of sea floor scour, nucleated by large artificial reef structures such as vessel hulks, barges, train cars, military vehicles, etc., called “scour nuclei”. It is a relic paleo-land surface of [...] Read more.
A previously buried paleosol was found on the continental shelf during a study of sea floor scour, nucleated by large artificial reef structures such as vessel hulks, barges, train cars, military vehicles, etc., called “scour nuclei”. It is a relic paleo-land surface of sapling-sized tree stumps, root systems, and fossil animal bone exhumed by scour processes active adjacent to the artificial reef structure. Over the span of five research cruises to the site in 2022–2024, soil samples were taken using hand excavation, PONAR grab samplers, split spoon, hollow tube auger, and a modified Shelby-style push box. High-definition (HD) video was taken using a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) and diver-held cameras. Radiocarbon dating of wood samples returned ages of 42,015–43,417 calibrated years before present (cal yrBP). Pollen studies, together with the recovered macrobotanical remains, support our interpretation of the site as a freshwater forested wetland whose keystone tree species was Taxodium distichum—bald cypress. The paleosol was identified as an Aquult, a sub-order of Ultisols where water tables are at or near the surface year-round. A deep (0.25 m+) argillic horizon comprised the bulk of the preserved soil. Comparable Ultisols found in Georgia wetlands include Typic Paleaquult (Grady and Bayboro series) soils. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Challenges in Marine Geology)
Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 12156 KiB  
Article
Mapping Groundwater-Dependent Vegetation Zones: Application of GIS and Multicriteria Analysis with Field Validation
by Osmel Abreu Rodríguez, José Luis Arumí and Roberto Urrutia
Water 2025, 17(4), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17040534 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 816
Abstract
Wetlands with shallow water tables allow the development of groundwater-dependent vegetation, which is fundamental to the functioning and conservation of these ecosystems. Despite their importance, only 8% of the wetland area in Chile is protected. The lack of specific research on regions such [...] Read more.
Wetlands with shallow water tables allow the development of groundwater-dependent vegetation, which is fundamental to the functioning and conservation of these ecosystems. Despite their importance, only 8% of the wetland area in Chile is protected. The lack of specific research on regions such as the center-south of the country hinders the protection and effective management of these ecosystems. This study presents an economical and practical methodology for mapping phreatophytic vegetation zones in a wetland in south-central Chile, using geographic information systems (GIS) and field validation. Through a literature review, five predictor parameters of the relationship between groundwater and vegetation in wetlands were selected. Using a multi-criteria analysis based on these five selected parameters, a map was generated to identify areas of high influence of groundwater on vegetation, which allowed the definition of ten zones to identify the type of vegetation and validate the methodology. The results indicated that 100% of the selected areas presented conditions of soil moisture and phreatophytic vegetation. Fourteen species were identified, of which nine are phreatophytes, corroborating that the parameters selected for mapping are indicators of areas where the existing vegetation depends on groundwater. It was demonstrated that the applied methodology offers a solid and accessible tool to map and identify the relationship between groundwater and vegetation in wetlands, generating valuable information that provides visibility to these ecosystems for better management and conservation. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 6042 KiB  
Article
Lake Kinneret and Hula Valley Ecosystems under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Involvement
by Moshe Gophen
Climate 2024, 12(5), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli12050072 - 16 May 2024
Viewed by 1811
Abstract
The long-term record of ecological, limnological and climatological parameters that were documented in the Kinneret drainage basin was statistically evaluated. The dependent relations between environmental parameters and a change in climate conditions open a consequence dispute between three optional definitions: long-term instability, climate [...] Read more.
The long-term record of ecological, limnological and climatological parameters that were documented in the Kinneret drainage basin was statistically evaluated. The dependent relations between environmental parameters and a change in climate conditions open a consequence dispute between three optional definitions: long-term instability, climate change impact and ecosystem resiliency. The Kinneret drainage basin during the Anthropocene era is marked by intensive anthropogenic involvement: Increase in population size, drainage of the wetlands and old lake Hula, agricultural development, enhancement of lake Kinneret utilization for water supply, hydrological management, fishery and recreation. Therefore, the impact of a combination of natural and anthropogenic environmental factors confounded each other, and the uniqueness of climate change is unclear. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 7103 KiB  
Article
Enabling Spatial Data Interoperability through the Use of a Semantic Meta-Model—The Peatland Example from the JRC SEPLA Project
by Pavel Milenov, Aleksandra Sima, Emanuele Lugato, Wim Devos and Philippe Loudjani
Land 2024, 13(4), 473; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040473 - 7 Apr 2024
Viewed by 2083
Abstract
Numerous geographic data on peatland exist but definitions vary, and the correspondent classes are often neither harmonized nor interoperable. This hinders the efforts to employ the available national datasets on peatlands and wetlands for policy monitoring and reporting. The existing meta-languages, such as [...] Read more.
Numerous geographic data on peatland exist but definitions vary, and the correspondent classes are often neither harmonized nor interoperable. This hinders the efforts to employ the available national datasets on peatlands and wetlands for policy monitoring and reporting. The existing meta-languages, such as ISO-Land Cover Meta Language (LCML) and EAGLE, offer the possibility to “deconstruct” the relevant nomenclatures in an object-oriented manner, allowing the comparability and interoperable use of related information. The complex nature of peatlands calls for a dedicated and structured vocabulary of keywords and terms, comprising the biotic substrate and the soil. In the SEPLA project, a semantic meta-model has been developed, combining the hierarchical ontology of the LCML with the matrix structure of the EAGLE model. The necessary elements were provided to describe peatland bio-physical characteristics, while representing the definitions in a concise and user-friendly manner (semantic passports). The proposed semantic meta-model is innovative as it enables the documentation of the spatial distribution of peatland characteristics, considering also their temporal dimension, their intrinsic relation with land use, and the soil. It has been successfully implemented for the translation of the national peatland nomenclature into common land categories relevant for reporting under LULUCF regulation, as part of the EU Climate Law. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Groundwater Ecosystem Services: Redefining and Operationalizing the Concept
by Vasileios G. Iliopoulos and Dimitris Damigos
Resources 2024, 13(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13010013 - 16 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3834
Abstract
In the last decade, the publication of research studies in the field of groundwater ecosystem services and their classification has increased dramatically. Several academic and other institutions have developed ecosystem service classification systems for use in environmental policy research. However, the existing classification [...] Read more.
In the last decade, the publication of research studies in the field of groundwater ecosystem services and their classification has increased dramatically. Several academic and other institutions have developed ecosystem service classification systems for use in environmental policy research. However, the existing classification systems need to be optimized in the following areas: (a) the weak correlation between concepts and the definitions assigned, which creates double counting in economic valuation, (b) the absence of correlation of the concept of use value with the ecosystem service, (c) the non-categorization of final and intermediate services, and (d) the overlapping of wetland, soil, and groundwater regulating ecosystem services. Our research aims, through the results of a literature analysis and the synthesis of the results of an expert consultation process, to develop a unified categorization system for groundwater ecosystem services. In the context of the conceptualization of groundwater ecosystem services, this research implemented an expert judging elicitation process where subject discussions and targeted interviews were performed, combined with a literature review analysis. Through the completion of a specific questionnaire and expert interviews, a new groundwater ecosystem services classification system, namely GROUNDWES, was established. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Editorial Board Members' Collection Series: Water Resources)
27 pages, 438 KiB  
Review
Assessing the Landscape Ecological Health (LEH) of Wetlands: Research Content and Evaluation Methods (2000–2022)
by Rongjie Yang, Yingying Chen, Yuling Qiu, Kezhu Lu, Xurui Wang, Gaoyuan Sun, Qiuge Liang, Huixing Song and Shiliang Liu
Water 2023, 15(13), 2410; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15132410 - 29 Jun 2023
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4629
Abstract
Wetlands are often referred to as the Earth’s kidneys. However, wetlands worldwide are still negatively affected due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of wetland landscape ecological health (WLEH). Based on this background, we analyzed and compared the conceptual definitions, research progress, contents [...] Read more.
Wetlands are often referred to as the Earth’s kidneys. However, wetlands worldwide are still negatively affected due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of wetland landscape ecological health (WLEH). Based on this background, we analyzed and compared the conceptual definitions, research progress, contents (in terms of structural, functional, and process health), and methods (indicator species approach, ecological integrity assessment, conceptual model evaluation including the vigor–organization–resilience (VOR), pressure–state–response (PSR), and ecological feature–function–socioeconomic (EFFS) models, and water–gas CO2 calculation) over the past 20 years (2000–2022). Moreover, the concept definition and research progress of ecosystem health (EH) and landscape ecological health (LEH) and WLEH research outlook were analyzed. In this study, it was shown that WLEH could be considered a LEH subset, while the LEH is a specific EH perspective. These three concepts share a common focus on ecosystem conditions, functions, and services while considering ecological processes and habitat characteristics. However, they differ in the scope and specific types of ecosystems considered. This review may provide references for ecological conservation and restoration of artificial and restored wetland landscapes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetland Ecosystems—Functions and Use in a Changing Climate)
16 pages, 1983 KiB  
Review
Constructed Wetlands as a Solution for Sustainable Sanitation: A Comprehensive Review on Integrating Climate Change Resilience and Circular Economy
by Ahmed M. N. Masoud, Amani Alfarra and Sabrina Sorlini
Water 2022, 14(20), 3232; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14203232 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 9246
Abstract
About eighty percent of wastewater is discharged into the environment untreated. Many challenges are decelerating solving the global sanitation problem, such as the financial limitations and lack of technical capacities. Parallel to this, many countries are facing a growing demand on their limited [...] Read more.
About eighty percent of wastewater is discharged into the environment untreated. Many challenges are decelerating solving the global sanitation problem, such as the financial limitations and lack of technical capacities. Parallel to this, many countries are facing a growing demand on their limited water resources. Higher water demand and limited availability leads to over-abstraction and deterioration in the availability and quality water resources. In this situation, wastewater can be a new water source. Therefore, there is a growing interest in finding low-cost, easy-to-operate and sustainable sanitation solutions. Constructed wetlands (CWs) in recent years have proved their capability in the sanitation sector as an appropriate sanitation system in different contexts, CWs have proved their ability to treat several types of wastewaters for several decades. Several benefits and facts, such as the low construction and operational costs of CWs, low-energy, and less operational requirements, have raised the interests in CWs as a treatment technology. Several studies have investigated CWs suitability based on different sustainability indices (technical, social, environmental, etc.). In this paper, a comprehensive review covers the definition, types, treatment processes, sustainability criteria, limitations, and challenges of CWs. The paper also focuses on climate change resilience and circular economic approach under the technical and financial criteria, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Infrastructure as a Technology for Rainwater Retention)
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 4906 KiB  
Communication
Guidelines for Analysing Coastal Flood Protection Systems after a Submersion
by Marc Igigabel, Yves Nédélec, Nathalie Bérenger, Nicolas Flouest, Alexis Bernard, Patrick Chassé and Anne-Laure Tiberi-Wadier
Water 2022, 14(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14010015 - 22 Dec 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3449
Abstract
Storm Xynthia, which hit the French Atlantic coast on 28 February 2010, flooded vast territories despite coastal defences. This disaster highlighted the need to further study the behaviour of the coastal flood protection systems at an adapted geographical scale by considering the kinematics [...] Read more.
Storm Xynthia, which hit the French Atlantic coast on 28 February 2010, flooded vast territories despite coastal defences. This disaster highlighted the need to further study the behaviour of the coastal flood protection systems at an adapted geographical scale by considering the kinematics of the events. This objective has been achieved through a combination of conceptual input on the definition of protection systems, significant breakthroughs in the knowledge of the mechanisms governing the flooding, and via the improvement of strategies and methods dedicated to flood analysis and representation. The developed methodology was successfully tested on four sites submerged during Xynthia (Loix, Les Boucholeurs, and Boyardville, located in Charente-Maritime, and Batz-sur-Mer, located in Loire-Atlantique). This work is intended to guide the diagnosis of sites prone to marine flooding from the first investigations until the delivery of study reports. Beyond the usual focus on hydraulic structures, it provides guidelines to better analyse the interactions with the natural environment (sea, soil, dune, wetlands, etc.) and with the built environment (roads and urban networks, ponds used for fish farming, buildings, etc.). This systemic approach, which is applied to a territory considered as a complex adaptive system, is fundamental to understanding the reaction of a territory during a marine submersion event and subsequently developing adaptation or transformation strategies. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 9815 KiB  
Article
Evidence of Coastal Changes in the West Coast of Naxos Island, Cyclades, Greece
by Niki Evelpidou, Alexandros Petropoulos, Anna Karkani and Giannis Saitis
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121427 - 14 Dec 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4300
Abstract
Coastal lagoons and dunes are of great ecological importance, not only for providing habitats for rare flora and fauna, but also for protecting coastal areas from rising sea levels and storms, etc. Even though these features are unique for sustainable development and are [...] Read more.
Coastal lagoons and dunes are of great ecological importance, not only for providing habitats for rare flora and fauna, but also for protecting coastal areas from rising sea levels and storms, etc. Even though these features are unique for sustainable development and are extremely important to the natural environment and economy, they are one of the most vulnerable and threatened ecosystems due to their small size. The western coasts of Naxos (central Aegean Sea) represent an example of such phenomena, with various wetlands bordered by low-lying sand dunes. The aim of our study is to assess the vulnerability and pressures of the western coasts of Naxos Isl. by taking into consideration both natural and anthropogenic factors. We used a variety of approaches for the environmental and geomorphological study of the coastal zone to achieve this goal, including: (a) study of aerial photography from 1960 until today, (b) systematic seasonal aerial monitoring by drone, since 2015, (c) use of DGPS for the mapping of the coastal zone and for obtaining detailed topographic sections, and (d) dune mapping. Our findings reveal the vulnerability of the western coasts of Naxos due to sea level rise, tectonic subsidence, and a variety of anthropogenic pressures, such as uncontrolled parking, vegetation uprooting, sand extractions, and heavy touristic traffic. Therefore, the protection of the sand dunes, their restoration where they have been eroded, the definition of a zone of control, and restriction of human activities must be a key priority. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Coastal Systems: Monitoring, Protection and Adaptation Approaches)
Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 1297 KiB  
Review
Wastewater Treatment Using Constructed Wetland: Current Trends and Future Potential
by Ikrema Hassan, Saidur R. Chowdhury, Perdana K. Prihartato and Shaikh A Razzak
Processes 2021, 9(11), 1917; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr9111917 - 27 Oct 2021
Cited by 103 | Viewed by 29199
Abstract
Constructed wetlands (CW) is an environmentally friendly technique for removing pollutants from wastewater and has been applied to municipal wastewater, petroleum refinery wastewater, agriculture drainage, acid mine drainage, etc. The past decade has seen a remarkable number of innovations in the exponentially growing [...] Read more.
Constructed wetlands (CW) is an environmentally friendly technique for removing pollutants from wastewater and has been applied to municipal wastewater, petroleum refinery wastewater, agriculture drainage, acid mine drainage, etc. The past decade has seen a remarkable number of innovations in the exponentially growing field of microbiology. This manuscript covers a critical review of key aspects of CW, such as various types of CW, the contaminants and their removal mechanisms, degradation pathways, challenges and opportunities, materials, applications, and theory with a focus on recent advances in the last three decades. In addition, an attempt has been taken to project future advances in the field of CW and facilitate these advances by framing key unsolved problems in CW. Guidelines are prepared for the fast-growing CW field through the standardization of key design aspects. This review covers the evaluation of the current state-of-the-art of CW technology and provides definitions and performance metric nomenclature in an effort to unify the fast-growing CW community. It also contains an outlook on the emerging trends in CW and proposes future research and development directions. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

27 pages, 4375 KiB  
Article
Geoarchaeology: Where Geosciences Meet the Humanities to Reconstruct Past Human–Environment Interactions. An Application to the Coastal Areas of the Largest Mediterranean Islands
by Matthieu Ghilardi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4480; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104480 - 14 May 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4087
Abstract
The study of past Human–Environment interactions has long been seen at a very local scale, that of sites of human occupation. Geoarchaeology differs from the traditional concepts of Environmental Archaeology and Landscape Archaeology in this respect since it adopts a different spatial resolution [...] Read more.
The study of past Human–Environment interactions has long been seen at a very local scale, that of sites of human occupation. Geoarchaeology differs from the traditional concepts of Environmental Archaeology and Landscape Archaeology in this respect since it adopts a different spatial resolution based on the development of multidisciplinary research at the scale of geographical, geological or geomorphological features. In this paper, we aim to contribute to the definition of coastal geoarchaeology where environmental holistic studies can be developed, thus integrating both continental and marine dynamics. A specific application is realized here for the largest Mediterranean islands where heterogeneity can be observed in research over the last decades. For this reason, we divide the Mediterranean Basin into four areas in order to review the main works conducted. In general, investigating coastal environments represents an exciting opportunity to reconstruct past landscapes and to evidence the long-term history of human occupation and land use by employing a wide range of proxies. We focus in particular on the coastal wetlands of Corsica, where a large number of lagoons have been cored since the early 2010s. Multiproxy laboratory analyses reveal a history of the complex relationships between past human societies and their environments which is complementary to existing archaeological studies. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1266 KiB  
Article
Global Stability Analysis of the Model of Series/Parallel Connected CSTRs with Flow Exchange Subject to Persistent Perturbation on the Input Concentration
by Alejandro Rincón, Fredy E. Hoyos and John E. Candelo-Becerra
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(9), 4178; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11094178 - 4 May 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1909
Abstract
In this paper, we study the convergence properties of a network model comprising three continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) with the following features: (i) the first and second CSTRs are connected in series, whereas the second and third CSTRs are connected in parallel [...] Read more.
In this paper, we study the convergence properties of a network model comprising three continuously stirred tank reactors (CSTRs) with the following features: (i) the first and second CSTRs are connected in series, whereas the second and third CSTRs are connected in parallel with flow exchange; (ii) the pollutant concentration in the inflow to the first CSTR is time varying but bounded; (iii) the states converge to a compact set instead of an equilibrium point, due to the time varying inflow concentration. The practical applicability of the arrangement of CSTRs is to provide a simpler model of pollution removal from wastewater treatment via constructed wetlands, generating a satisfactory description of experimental pollution values with a satisfactory transport dead time. We determine the bounds of the convergence regions, considering these features, and also: (i) we prove the asymptotic convergence of the states; (ii) we determine the effect of the presence of the side tank (third tank) on the transient value of all the system states, and we prove that it has no effect on the convergence regions; (iii) we determine the invariance of the convergence regions. The stability analysis is based on dead zone Lyapunov functions, and comprises: (i) definition of the dead zone quadratic form for each state, and determination of its properties; (ii) determination of the time derivatives of the quadratic forms and its properties. Finally, we illustrate the results obtained by simulation, showing the asymptotic convergence to the compact set. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 654 KiB  
Communication
Classifying Large Wildfires in the United States by Land Cover
by Brice B. Hanberry
Remote Sens. 2020, 12(18), 2966; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12182966 - 12 Sep 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3492
Abstract
Fire is an ecological process that also has socio-economic effects. To learn more about fire occurrence, I examined relationships between land classes and about 12,000 spatially delineated large wildfires (defined here as uncontrolled fires ≥200 ha, although definitions vary) during 1999 to 2017 [...] Read more.
Fire is an ecological process that also has socio-economic effects. To learn more about fire occurrence, I examined relationships between land classes and about 12,000 spatially delineated large wildfires (defined here as uncontrolled fires ≥200 ha, although definitions vary) during 1999 to 2017 in the conterminous United States. Using random forests, extreme gradient boosting, and c5.0 classifiers, I modeled all fires, first years (1999 to 2002), last years (2014 to 2017), the eastern, central, and western United States and seven ecoregions. The three classifiers performed well (true positive rates 0.82 to 0.94) at modeling all fires and fires by year, region, and ecoregion. The random forests classifier did not predict to other time intervals or regions as well as other classifiers and models were not constant in time and space. For example, the eastern region overpredicted fires in the western region and models for the western region underpredicted fires in the eastern region. Overall, greater abundance of herbaceous grasslands, or herbaceous wetlands in the eastern region, and evergreen forest and low abundance of crops and pasture characterized most large fires, even with regional differences. The 14 states in the northeastern United States with no or few large fires contained limited herbaceous area and abundant crops or developed lands. Herbaceous vegetation was the most important variable for fire occurrences in the western region. Lack of crops was most important for fires in the central region and a lack of pasture, crops, and developed open space was most important for fires in the eastern region. A combination of wildlands vegetation was most influential for most ecoregions, although herbaceous vegetation alone and lack of pasture, crops, and developed open space also were influential. Despite departure from historical fire regimes, these models demonstrated that herbaceous vegetation remains necessary for fires and that evergreen forests in particular are fire-prone, while reduction of vegetation surrounding housing developments will help provide a buffer to reduce large fires. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing and Pyrogeography)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop