Forests and Water
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Research Theme: Geomorphic Processes in Forest Environments
Forest environments are subject to a range of geomorphic processes that play an important role in erosion, downstream sediment delivery and long-term landscape change. These processes include extreme events, such as runoff- or mass failure-initiated debris flows and high magnitude floods, as well as processes operating gradually, such as soil formation. Varying interactions between geomorphic processes and climatic, hydrologic, topographic, wildfire, soil and forest vegetation controls generate landscapes that adjust and evolve through time. Understanding the space and time-dependent nature of these interactions provides important insights relevant to both scientific and management interests.
Current research includes investigation of known debris flow sites in burnt forest environments in south-eastern Australia to determine sediment yields, initiation processes and threshold controls. The relative contribution of these events to catchment scale sediment flux is of particular interest. Models will be employed to explore the processes of debris flow initiation, the magnitude of sediment yields, and the frequency of occurrence after wildfire.
Current projects
- Initiation thresholds, landscape controls, and sediment yields from post-fire runoff-generated debris flows
- Wildfire and water security project: quantifying the risk of extreme post-fire erosion events