IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/nathaz/v121y2025i3d10.1007_s11069-024-06907-4.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Spatiotemporal monitoring of post-fire soil erosion rates using earth observation (EO) data and cloud computing

Author

Listed:
  • Stefanos P. Stefanidis

    (Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA)

  • Nikolaos D. Proutsos

    (Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA, Terma Alkmanos)

  • Alexandra D. Solomou

    (Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA, Terma Alkmanos)

  • Panagiotis Michopoulos

    (Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA, Terma Alkmanos)

  • Athanassios Bourletsikas

    (Hellenic Agricultural Organization—DIMITRA, Terma Alkmanos)

  • Dimitris Tigkas

    (National Technical University of Athens)

  • Velibor Spalevic

    (University of Montenegro)

  • Shuraik Kader

    (Griffith University)

Abstract

This research addressed on the crucial concern of soil erosion in the post-fire Mediterranean landscapes, regarding disastrous wildfires in Greece during 2021. These fires broke out at the Varympompi, Schinos, and Ancient Olympia-Gortynia. To accomplish these goals, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Earth Observation (EO) data coupled with Google Earth Engine (GEE) were used to quantify the wildfire effects on erosion dynamics in the burned areas as well as the regulation provided from the emergency post-fire rehabilitation treatments. High-resolution EO data such as Sentinel-2 imagery and climate data from ERA5-Land were processed over the GEE platform to assess soil erosion factor changes before and after the fire occurrence. The analysis was followed up by measurements of the vegetation recovery and rainfall erosivity, which are crucial for the knowledge of erosion processes in such regions. Results displayed great increases in soil erosion post-fire, with rates at Ancient Olympia-Gortynia rising to 118.3 t ha−1 y−1 in the first hydrological year after fire from pre-fire rates of 9.8 t ha−1 y−1. At Schinos site, rates increased from a pre-fire average of 11.6 to 72.2 t ha−1 y−1, and in Varympompi, from 4.8 to 28.8 t ha−1 y−1. Post-fire restoration works reduced erosion processes by approximately 18%. Coupling RUSLE with GEE offers a novel opportunity for dynamic monitoring of soil erosion towards informing land management and policy formulation in the fire-prone Mediterranean ecosystems in relation to the mitigation of erosion. The policy formulation on land management within fire-prone Mediterranean-type ecosystems stands to be influenced by the findings of the current study. Indeed, this is of worldwide importance, whereby management practices need to be adopted to ensure that ecosystems recover rapidly and effectively after fires for the conservation of soil resources.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefanos P. Stefanidis & Nikolaos D. Proutsos & Alexandra D. Solomou & Panagiotis Michopoulos & Athanassios Bourletsikas & Dimitris Tigkas & Velibor Spalevic & Shuraik Kader, 2025. "Spatiotemporal monitoring of post-fire soil erosion rates using earth observation (EO) data and cloud computing," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(3), pages 2873-2894, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:121:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-024-06907-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-024-06907-4
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11069-024-06907-4
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11069-024-06907-4?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stefanos Stefanidis & Nikolaos Proutsos & Vasileios Alexandridis & Giorgos Mallinis, 2024. "Ecosystem Services Supply from Peri-Urban Watersheds in Greece: Soil Conservation and Water Retention," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, May.
    2. Maryam Nourizadeh & Hamed Naghavi & Ebrahim Omidvar, 2024. "Correction to: The effect of land use and land cover changes on soil erosion in semi-arid areas using cloud‑based google earth engine platform and GIS‑based RUSLE model," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(8), pages 8095-8099, June.
    3. Sinan Demir & İbrahim Dursun, 2024. "Assessment of pre- and post-fire erosion using the RUSLE equation in a watershed affected by the forest fire on Google Earth Engine: the study of Manavgat River Basin," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(3), pages 2499-2527, February.
    4. Hariklia D. Skilodimou & George D. Bathrellos, 2021. "Natural and Technological Hazards in Urban Areas: Assessment, Planning and Solutions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-5, July.
    5. Maryam Nourizadeh & Hamed Naghavi & Ebrahim Omidvar, 2024. "The effect of land use and land cover changes on soil erosion in semi-arid areas using cloud-based google earth engine platform and GIS-based RUSLE model," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(7), pages 6901-6922, May.
    6. Giorgos Mallinis & Ioannis Z. Gitas & Georgios Tasionas & Fotis Maris, 2016. "Multitemporal Monitoring of Land Degradation Risk Due to Soil Loss in a Fire-Prone Mediterranean Landscape Using Multi-decadal Landsat Imagery," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(3), pages 1255-1269, February.
    7. I. Rellini & C. Scopesi & S. Olivari & M. Firpo & M. Maerker, 2019. "Assessment of soil erosion risk in a typical Mediterranean environment using a high resolution RUSLE approach (Portofino promontory, NW-Italy)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(2), pages 356-362, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ninu Krishnan Modon Valappil & Fatimah Shafinaz Ahmad & Pratheesh Chacko Mammen & Pradeep Gopinathan Nair Shobhana & Vijith Hamza, 2025. "Temporal soil loss scenarios and erosional dynamics of a slopping landmass in the southwestern India before and after the 2018 severe rainfall and mega flood events," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(1), pages 1067-1094, January.
    2. Vergamini, Daniele & Olivieri, Matteo & Andreoli, Maria & Bartolini, Fabio, 2024. "Simulating policy mixes to reduce soil erosion and land abandonment in marginal areas: A case study from the Liguria Region (Italy)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    3. Stefanos Stefanidis & Vasileios Alexandridis & Kaushik Ghosal, 2022. "Assessment of Water-Induced Soil Erosion as a Threat to Natura 2000 Protected Areas in Crete Island, Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Paolo Vassallo & Claudia Turcato & Ilaria Rigo & Claudia Scopesi & Andrea Costa & Matteo Barcella & Giulia Dapueto & Mauro Mariotti & Chiara Paoli, 2021. "Biophysical Accounting of Forests’ Value under Different Management Regimes: Conservation vs. Exploitation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    5. Alana M. Weir & Thomas M. Wilson & Mark S. Bebbington & Sarah Beaven & Teresa Gordon & Craig Campbell-Smart & Stuart Mead & James H. Williams & Roger Fairclough, 2024. "Approaching the challenge of multi-phase, multi-hazard volcanic impact assessment through the lens of systemic risk: application to Taranaki Mounga," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(10), pages 9327-9360, August.
    6. Honghao Liu & ZhuoWei Hu & Ziqing Yang & Mi Wang, 2024. "Model-data matching method for natural disaster emergency service scenarios: implementation based on a knowledge graph and community discovery algorithm," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 120(5), pages 4233-4255, March.
    7. Shuangfei Zhao & Wei Zeng & Qian Yang & Rong Zheng, 2025. "Research on the Driving Factors and Trade-Offs/Synergies of Woodland Ecosystem Services in Zhangjiajie City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-30, April.
    8. Lamek Nahayo & Cui Peng & Yu Lei & Rongzhi Tan, 2023. "Spatial understanding of historical and future landslide variation in Africa," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 119(1), pages 613-641, October.
    9. Indie G. Dapin & Victor B. Ella, 2023. "GIS-Based Soil Erosion Risk Assessment in the Watersheds of Bukidnon, Philippines Using the RUSLE Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, February.
    10. Michalia Sakellariou & Basil E. Psiloglou & Christos Giannakopoulos & Photini V. Mylona, 2021. "Integration of Abandoned Lands in Sustainable Agriculture: The Case of Terraced Landscape Re-Cultivation in Mediterranean Island Conditions," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Lia Duarte & Mário Cunha & Ana Cláudia Teodoro, 2021. "Comparing Hydric Erosion Soil Loss Models in Rainy Mountainous and Dry Flat Regions in Portugal," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, May.
    12. Chuloh Jung & Jihad Awad, 2023. "Sharjah Sustainable City: An Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach to Urban Planning Priorities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-21, May.
    13. Julio Cesar Neves Santos & Eunice Maia Andrade & Pedro Henrique Augusto Medeiros & Maria João Simas Guerreiro & Helba Araújo Queiroz Palácio, 2017. "Effect of Rainfall Characteristics on Runoff and Water Erosion for Different Land Uses in a Tropical Semiarid Region," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(1), pages 173-185, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:121:y:2025:i:3:d:10.1007_s11069-024-06907-4. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.