Impact of forest fires on geomorphic processes in the Tyrolean Limestone Alps

Sass, O., Haas, F., Schimmer, C., Heel, M., Bremer, M., Stoger, F. and Wetzel, K.‐F. 2012. Impact of forest fires on geomorphic processes in the Tyrolean Limestone Alps. Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 94, 117–133. doi:10.1111/j.1468‐0459.2012.00452.xABSTRACTWe investigated geomorphic processes on two slopes (Arnspitze and Bettelwurf) burned by wildfire in the region north of Innsbruck. Both burned in 1946 and both are still characterized by severe vegetation destruction. Sparsely grass‐covered rock and debris slopes have developed replacing the former dwarf pine (Pinus mugo) shrub stands.Our aim was to establish disturbed and undisturbed erosion rates and to decide whether recent debris flows can be assigned to these historical wildfires or not. We measured fluvial erosion by means of collectors, estimated the amount of post‐fire erosion from stratigraphic exposures in the adjacent talus, modelled bedload discharge with a statistical model developed in a nearby study area and quantifie...