Objectives: The general objective of this project is to improve understanding and prediction of water-resource dynamics in boreal forests affected by wildfires. The research will examine how wildfire alters groundwater recharge, streamflow, soil moisture, evapotranspiration, and water availability. Field observations, remote sensing products, climate data, and hydrological information will be integrated within advanced artificial-intelligence models. Particular attention will be given to developing interpretable and physically consistent models that can represent interactions among fire severity, landscape characteristics, climate, and hydrological processes. The project will also assess how climate change may influence post-fire hydrological recovery and future water vulnerability. The resulting models and decision-support information will contribute to the sustainable management of water resources in fire-affected boreal regions.
- Project PI(s): Rahim Barzegar (PI, UQAT)
- Funding: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Discovery Grants Program
- Reference: RGPIN-2025-06279
- Period: 2025/04 to 2030/03