Advances on water quality modeling in burned areas: A review

Wildfires are a recurring hazard in forested catchments representing major threat to water security worldwide. impacts on quality have been thoroughly addressed by the scientific community through field studies, laboratory experiments, and, lesser extent, use of hydrological models. Nonetheless, models important tools assess on-site and off-site wildfires provide basis for post-fire land management decisions. This study aims describe current state art model adaptation, understanding how simulated options taken modelers selecting parameters. For this purpose, 42 publications modeling wildfire hydrologic cycle were retrieved from SCOPUS database. Most studies erosion response first year after fire, while few assessed nutrients changes long-term impacts. In addition, most simulations ended at watershed outlet without considering fate pollutants downstream waterbodies. Ash transport was identified as research gap, given difficulties its incorporation models’ structure high complexity predicting heterogeneous ash layer. Including such layer would improve ability simulate conditions, being source contaminants. Model data limitations influenced spatial temporal scale chosen simulations. Post-fire adaptations soil well established, mainly using empirical equations extensively calibrated literature. At level, however, physical process-based preferred their more complex burned area characteristics. Future should focus simulation development integrated modelling frameworks, combining aquatic ecosystem link fires.