Using Repeat-Pass Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) Data to Compare Wildfire Induced Geomorphic Change Across Different Burn Severities in the Cariboo Region, British Columbia

The results did not support our hypothesis that higher burn severities would have significantly greater evidence of geomorphic change occurrence across event size and slope class. The majority of the significant pairs were between the unburned and burned classes with 17 significant relationships, while there was only one significant relationship between the burn classes (low, medium, and high). On the steepest slopes (35° >), there were no significant relationships across the size classes, possibly due to a lack of initial vegetation.

By characterizing the differences in geomorphic event occurrence between burn severities we can better understand the impact that wildfires can have on geomorphic change. This could lead to improvements in post-wildfire hazard and risk assessments and may induce amendments to the current assessment methodology in British Columbia.