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Photos of the Gois study site, illustrating aspects of the research into the effects of forest fire.
Forest fire risk notices are prominently positioned to warn the public. (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Fire risk notice
Vale Torto catchment occupies the central lower part of this image. The catchment is c. 10 ha in size and is being instrumented to record soil losses before and after prescribed (controlled) fire. Prescribed fire is a measure intended to reduce the fuel load and therefore the likelihood of wildfire and its degradational effects. (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Vale Torto catchment
Area burnt July 2008 at Camelo. This site is instrumented to monitor soil erosion. It provides a wildfire comparison for Vale Torto catchment, subject to prescribed fire. (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Burnt area
One of a number of sediment fences installed in Vale Torto catchment, June 2008. These fences are designed to trap sediment eroded by overland flow from upslope. They comprise a woven , permeable geotextile fabric which is supported by steel stakes and pinned to the soil on its upslope side. (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Sediment fence
Vale Torto catchment view showing mainly scrub vegetation. (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Scrub vegetation in Vale Torto catchment
View from upper part of Vale Torto catchment. (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Upper part of Vale Torto catchment
Soil sampling in November 2008 at the Camelo wildfire site (burnt in July 2008). (© Rick Shakesby)<br>

Soil sampling
Temperature-sensitive paint is applied to metal strips in preparation for placing in the soil to determine maximum temperatures reached during the fire. (© Rick Shakesby)

Temperature-sensitive paint
Stripes of temperature-sensitive paint. The unpainted metal strip is placed over the paint stripes for protection (as in the examples at the top of the image). (© Rick Shakesby)

Stripes of temperature-sensitive paint
Mature pine site prior to prescribed fire, November 2008. (© Rick Shakesby)

Mature pine prior to fire
Fine (brown) sediment subject to downslope movement by gravity alone (‘dry ravel’), Camelo newly burnt site. (© Rick Shakesby)

Sediment at newly burnt site
Water droplets on hydrophobic soil beneath ash layer at Camelo newly-burnt site. (© Rick Shakesby)

Hydrophobic soil
fig_2-4.jpg.jpg

Acknowledgement

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The DESIRE project was 
co-funded by the 
European Commission, 
Global Change and 
Ecosystem.
 
DESIRE brought together the expertise of
26 international research institutes
and non-governmental organisations. 
This website does not necessarily 
represent the opinion of the 
European Commission. The European 
Commission is not responsible for 
any use that might be made of the 
information contained herein.

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