Objective ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF FIRE ON CATCHMENT DYNAMICS, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS WITH A STRONG SEASONAL CLIMATIC REGIME. THE PROJECT AIMS PARTICULARLY ON THE INTERACTIONS AND LINKAGES BETWEEN HILLSLOPE EROSION PROCESSES AND DRAINAGE BASIN DYNAMICS, SO THAT ADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN. OVER 600 HA OF FOREST (EUCALIPTHUS GLOBULUS AND PINUS MARITIMUS) WERE URNED IN THE AGUEDA RIVER AREA DURING THE SEVERE FIRE ON 13-14TH JUNE 1986. SINCE THE AREA RECEIVES ON AVERAGE OVER 1800 MM OF RAINFALL AND HAS A MODERATE RELATIVE RELIEF OF AROUND 300 METRES, BUT WITH SOME VERY STEEP SLOPES (>20 DEGREES), AND SHALLOW STONY SOILS, HEAVY EROSION HAS ALREADY OCCURED FOLLOWING INTENSE RAINSTORMS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. IN THIS PROJECT IT IS INTENDED TO: 1.- ASSESS CHANGE IN SLOPE AND CATCHMENT DYNAMICS IN THE SHORT-TERM EVOLUTION OF GEOMORPHOLOGICAL PROCESSES; 2.- IDENTIFY THE CONTROLLING FACTORS DETERMINING HOW THE SYSTEM OPERATES AND HOW IT ADAPTS TO THE NEW CONSTRAINTS CREATED BY THE BURNING OF THE VEGETATION COVER; 3.- IDENTIFY THE RISK AREAS, SO THAT REMEDIAL ACTION IS TAKEN BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE; 4.- UNDERSTAND LONG-TERM TENDENCIES IN LANDSCAPE EVOLUTION DUE TO PHENOMENA OF VERY SHORT DURATION; 5.- IDENTIFY THE FEEDBACK MECHANISMS GENERATED AND TRY TO PREDICT THE DRAINAGE BASIN MODEL OF EVOLUTION, SO THAT ADEQUATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES CAN BE TAKEN. Fields of science natural sciencesearth and related environmental scienceshydrologydrainage basins Programme(s) FP1-ENVPROT 4C - Multiannual research and development programmes (EEC) in the field of the environment - Protection of the environment -, 1986-1990 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF AVEIRO EU contribution No data Address Campo Universitario de Santiago 3810-193 AVEIRO Portugal See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Swansea University United Kingdom EU contribution No data Address Singleton park SA2 8PP SWANSEA See on map Links Website Opens in new window Total cost No data