Wildfires and their Effects on Ecosystems Feedback Loop
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Graduate
Major
Geoinformatics
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Robin Q. Zhang
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
Throughout the last decade, wildfires have become an increasingly common occurrence within our ecosystems with increased severity and burn time. Within a region a fire occurs and creates a prime environment for wildfire to occur within a neighboring region. Investigate if the continental United States wildfires are feeding into this feedback loop, two study sites within California are chosen and monitored from August 2020 until October, 2025. The monitoring involves the use vegetation change analysis with the Sentinal-2 red edge band, comparing pre-fire, beginning to end of fire, three months post fire, six months post fire, one year post, etc. This process is applied every time a fire occurs within the study region. In addition, the use of the ECOSTRESS satellite will be used to monitor the Evaporation Stress Index, to monitor if the plants are effectively using their water, and the Land Surface Temperatures. The results from one site only one site over a five-year period show that the wildfires do not feedback into their ecosystem within the Californian region. Analysis of the second study region is currently underway, which may indicate otherwise.
Fall Scholars Week 2025
Earth and Environmental Sciences Poster Session
Wildfires and their Effects on Ecosystems Feedback Loop
Throughout the last decade, wildfires have become an increasingly common occurrence within our ecosystems with increased severity and burn time. Within a region a fire occurs and creates a prime environment for wildfire to occur within a neighboring region. Investigate if the continental United States wildfires are feeding into this feedback loop, two study sites within California are chosen and monitored from August 2020 until October, 2025. The monitoring involves the use vegetation change analysis with the Sentinal-2 red edge band, comparing pre-fire, beginning to end of fire, three months post fire, six months post fire, one year post, etc. This process is applied every time a fire occurs within the study region. In addition, the use of the ECOSTRESS satellite will be used to monitor the Evaporation Stress Index, to monitor if the plants are effectively using their water, and the Land Surface Temperatures. The results from one site only one site over a five-year period show that the wildfires do not feedback into their ecosystem within the Californian region. Analysis of the second study region is currently underway, which may indicate otherwise.