Description
Fire, geomorphic processes, and landforms interact to determine natural patterns of ecosystems over landscapes. Fire alters vegetation and soil properties which change soil and sediment movement through watersheds. Landforms affect fire behavior and form firebreaks which determine burn boundaries. Geomorphic consequences of fire in a landscape-ecosystem type are determined by (a) characteristics of the fire regime, mainly frequency and intensity; and (b) geomorphic sensitivity or erodibility of the landscape.