Lauren Nickell

Areas of interest

The characterization and assessment of post-wildfire landscape response

Increased wildfires across western North America over the previous few decades present hazards following the initial burn, including the risk of dangerous conditions due to incineration of vegetation and degradation of soil structure. Rainfall events occurring in the years following a wildfire are more likely to initiate hazardous debris flows capable of disrupting human roadways and other infrastructure. Although efforts have been made to better understand the likelihood of debris-flows in the wake of fires, these studies focus on montane regions primarily located in southern California and throughout the Intermountain West of the United States. This study aims to understand controls and processes of rainfall on debris flow initiation in the wetter climate present across southern British Columbia. Understanding the rainfall intensity-duration thresholds capable of triggering debris-flows following fires in the Pacific Northwest will aid in emergency response and management of burned areas.