Assessment of Pre/Post-wildfire Burned Severity and Soil Erosion Risk for Conservation Planning in Khao Phra District, Thailand Using Remote Sensing and Google Earth Engine

Abstract

Due to changes in climate, non-controlled large-scale wildfires are becoming more frequent and dangerous for human lives and residential areas. A quantitative assessment of soil erosion is needed to outline an evaluation on the extent and magnitude of post-fire soil erosion potential and to develop the effectiveness of the mitigation actions and conservation plans. Thus, the main objective of this study is to assess burned severity and estimate the rate of soil erosion risk by using the coupling of a satellite imagery-based Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) method and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform for the wildfire event on 22-26 February 2020 in Khao Phra district, Thailand. The results of this study indicate that the areas of high and moderate burned severity are ~0.2 (0.36%) and ~11 sq.km. (20.44% of the total of study area), respectively and the soil erosion rates of pre- and post-wildfire are 330 and 459 ton/ha/year, respectively. In addition, our findings reveal significant geographical soil erosion prone locations, which can help in making decisions and developing plans related to the wildfire mitigation actions, humanitarian assistance, and natural conservation.