Fire characteristics and hydrologic connectivity influence short-term responses of north temperate lakes to wildfire
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Abstract
Despite increasing wildfires, few studies have investigated seasonal water quality responses to wildfire characteristics (e.g., burn severity) across a large number of lakes. We monitored 30 total lakes (15 burned, 15 control) monthly following the Greenwood Fire in Minnesota, USA, a lake-rich region with historically prevalent wildfire. We found increases in median concentrations of total nitrogen (68%), total phosphorus (70%), dissolved organic carbon (127%), total suspended solids (71%), and reduced water clarity (48%) and pH (0.45) in burned lakes. Post-wildfire responses in drainage lakes were often persistent or cumulative throughout the open-water season, compared to isolated lakes. Total phosphorus (TP) increased linearly with watershed high-severity burns, and shoreline high-severity burns explained more variation in TP than lake morphometry and watershed variables. Post-wildfire chlorophyll-a responses were nonsignificant and inconsistent, possibly due to light limitation. Our results suggest that increasing wildfires have significant potential to affect water quality of inland lakes.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Fire characteristics and hydrologic connectivity influence short-term responses of north temperate lakes to wildfire |
| Series title | Geophysical Research Letters |
| DOI | 10.1029/2023GL103953 |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue | 26 |
| Year Published | 2023 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Geophysical Union |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Leetown |
| Description | e2023GL103953, 11 p. |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |