Fast characterization of wildfire effects on soil organic matter by analytical pyrolysis

Abstract

Forest fires are a frequent phenomenon in Mediterranean ecosystems, and are widely considered to be the main factor of disturbance in the Mediterranean basin. The Iberian Peninsula has the highest risk of wildfire occurence of Europe. During the period 1980-2003 approximately 29% of continental Portugal was affected by wildfires. Wildfires can effect wide range of physical, chemical, mineralogical and biological soil properties (e.g. González-Pérez et al., 2004). The extent of these changes depends to a large degree on the temperature ranges reached at different soil depths (severity) and on the degree of heating that the different soil components can withstand before being altered (resilience).