Brian A. Ebel
(He/him)Brian Ebel is a Research Hydrologist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Brian Ebel is a hydrologist who uses field measurements combined with numerical modeling to advance prediction and assessment for water resources through improved process representation. His work focuses on landscape disturbance impacts (e.g., wildfire, forestry, legacy mining) on water availability and water-related hazards to human lives and infrastructure. He was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) in 2019 for his contributions to understanding post-wildfire flooding and water availability issues. In 2023, Brian was selected as a Kavli Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences. Brian is currently in the Earth System Processes Division of the USGS Water Mission Area.
Professional Experience
2014-present: Research Hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Water Mission Area
Education and Certifications
Stanford University, Ph.D. in Hydrogeology
Washington University in St. Louis, B.A. in Earth and Planetary Science
Science and Products
Assessing plot-scale impacts of land use on overland flow generation in Central Panama
Fates and fingerprints of sulfur and carbon following wildfire in economically important croplands of California, U.S.
Parameter estimation for multiple post-wildfire hydrologic models
Wildfire-initiated talik development exceeds current thaw projections: Observations and models from Alaska's continuous permafrost zone
Temporal evolution of measured and simulated infiltration following wildfire in the Colorado Front Range, USA: Shifting thresholds of runoff generation and hydrologic hazards
Conceptual framework for assessing disturbance impacts on debris-flow initiation thresholds across hydroclimatic settings
Measurement method has a larger impact than spatial scale for plot-scale field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) after wildfire and prescribed fire in forests
Sources of inherent infiltration variability in postwildfire soils
Soil physical, hydraulic, and thermal properties in interior Alaska, USA: Implications for hydrologic response to thawing permafrost conditions
Development of perennial thaw zones in boreal hillslopes enhances potential mobilization of permafrost carbon
Multi-scale geophysical mapping of deep permafrost change after disturbance in interior Alaska, USA
Thresholds and relations for soil‐hydraulic and soil‐physical properties as a function of burn severity 4 years after the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, New Mexico, USA
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 55
Assessing plot-scale impacts of land use on overland flow generation in Central Panama
Land use in Panama has changed dramatically with ongoing deforestation and conversion to cropland and cattle pastures, potentially altering the soil properties that drive the hydrological processes of infiltration and overland flow. We compared plot-scale overland flow generation between hillslopes in forested and actively cattle-grazed watersheds in Central Panama. Soil physical and hydraulic proAuthorsSidney A. Bush, Robert Stallard, Brian A. Ebel, Holly R. BarnardFates and fingerprints of sulfur and carbon following wildfire in economically important croplands of California, U.S.
Sulfur (S) is widely used in agriculture, yet little is known about its fates within upland watersheds, particularly in combination with disturbances like wildfire. Our study examined the effects of land use and wildfire on the biogeochemical “fingerprints,” or the quantity and chemical composition, of S and carbon (C). We conducted our research within the Napa River Watershed, California, U.S., wAuthorsAnna L. Hermes, Brian A. Ebel, Sheila F. Murphy, Eve-Lyn S. HinckleyParameter estimation for multiple post-wildfire hydrologic models
Predictions of post‐wildfire flooding and debris flows are needed, typically with short lead times. Measurements of soil‐hydraulic properties necessary for model parameterization are, however, seldom available. This study quantified soil‐hydraulic properties, soil‐water retention, and selected soil physical properties within the perimeter of the 2017 Thomas Fire in California. The Thomas Fire burnAuthorsBrian A. Ebel, John A. MoodyWildfire-initiated talik development exceeds current thaw projections: Observations and models from Alaska's continuous permafrost zone
As the Arctic warms and wildfire occurrence increases, talik formation in permafrost regions is projected to expand and affect the cycling of water and carbon. Yet, few unified field and modeling studies have examined this process in detail, particularly in areas of continuous permafrost. We address this gap by presenting multimethod, multiseasonal geophysical measurements of permafrost and liquidAuthorsDavid Rey, Michelle A. Walvoord, Burke J. Minsley, Brian A. Ebel, Clifford I. Voss, Kamini SinghaTemporal evolution of measured and simulated infiltration following wildfire in the Colorado Front Range, USA: Shifting thresholds of runoff generation and hydrologic hazards
Destructive flash floods and debris flows are a common menace following wildfire. The restoration of protection provided by forests from post-fire floods and debris flows depends on the recovery of infiltration and attendant reduction of infiltration-excess surface runoff generation. This work examines seven years of post-fire infiltration measurements and temporal relations fit to soil-hydraulicAuthorsBrian A. EbelConceptual framework for assessing disturbance impacts on debris-flow initiation thresholds across hydroclimatic settings
The destructive and deadly nature of debris flows has motivated research into empirical rainfall thresholds to provide situational awareness, inform early warning systems, and reduce loss of life and property. Disturbances such as wildfire and land-cover change can influence the hydrological processes of infiltration and runoff generation; in steep terrain this typically lowers empirical thresholdAuthorsBenjamin B. Mirus, Dennis M. Staley, Jason W. Kean, Joel B. Smith, Rick Wooten, Luke A. McGuire, Brian A. EbelMeasurement method has a larger impact than spatial scale for plot-scale field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs) after wildfire and prescribed fire in forests
Abstract Wildfires raise risks of floods, debris flows, major geomorphologic and sedimentologic change, and water quality and quantity shifts. A principal control on the magnitude of these changes is field-saturated hydraulic conductivity (Kfs), which dictates surface runoff generation and is a key input into numerical models. This work synthesizes 73 Kfs datasets from the literature in the firstAuthorsBrian EbelSources of inherent infiltration variability in postwildfire soils
An automated disc infiltrometer was developed to improve the measurements of soil hydraulic properties (saturated hydraulic conductivity and sorptivity) of soils affected by wildfire. Guidelines are given for interpreting curves showing cumulative infiltration as a function of time measured by the autodisc. The autodisc was used to measure the variability of these soil hydraulic properties in threAuthorsJohn A. Moody, Richard G. Martin, Brian A. EbelSoil physical, hydraulic, and thermal properties in interior Alaska, USA: Implications for hydrologic response to thawing permafrost conditions
Boreal forest regions are a focal point for investigations of coupled water and biogeochemical fluxes in response to wildfire disturbances, climate warming, and permafrost thaw. Soil hydraulic, physical, and thermal property measurements for mineral soils in permafrost regions are limited, despite substantial influences on cryohydrogeologic model results. This work expands mineral soil property quAuthorsBrian A. Ebel, Joshua C. Koch, Michelle A. WalvoordDevelopment of perennial thaw zones in boreal hillslopes enhances potential mobilization of permafrost carbon
Permafrost thaw alters subsurface flow in boreal regions that in turn influences the magnitude, seasonality, and chemical composition of streamflow. Prediction of these changes is challenged by incomplete knowledge of timing, flowpath depth, and amount of groundwater discharge to streams in response to thaw. One important phenomenon that may affect flow and transport through boreal hillslopes is dAuthorsMichelle A. Walvoord, Clifford I. Voss, Brian A. Ebel, Burke J. MinsleyMulti-scale geophysical mapping of deep permafrost change after disturbance in interior Alaska, USA
Disturbance related to fire or hydrologic processes can cause degradation of deep (greater than 1 m) permafrost. These changes in deep permafrost have the potential to impact landscapes and infrastructure, alter the routing and distribution of surface water or groundwater, and may contribute to the flux of carbon to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, characterization of deep permafrost oAuthorsBurke J. Minsley, Benjamin R. Bloss, Brian A. Ebel, David Matthew Rey, Michelle A. Walvoord, Dana R.N. Brown, Ronald Daanen, Abraham M. Emond, M. Andy Kass, Neal J. Pastick, Bruce WylieThresholds and relations for soil‐hydraulic and soil‐physical properties as a function of burn severity 4 years after the 2011 Las Conchas Fire, New Mexico, USA
Wildfire effects on soil‐physical and ‐hydraulic properties as a function of burn severity are poorly characterized, especially several years after wildfire. A stratified random sampling approach was used in 2015 to sample seven sites representing a spectrum of remotely sensed burn severity in the area impacted by the 2011 Las Conchas Fire in New Mexico, USA. Replicate samples from each site wereAuthorsBrian A. Ebel, Orlando C. Romero, Deborah A. MartinNon-USGS Publications**
Ebel, B. A., 2013, Simulated unsaturated flow processes after wildfire and interactions with slope aspect, Water Resources Research, 49, 8090–8107, doi: 10.1002/2013WR014129Loague, K., and , B. A. Ebel, 2013, Conceptualization in catchment modeling. In Treatise on Geomorphology, Edited by J. F. Shroder, Vol. 7, pp. 105-121. San Diego, Academic Press, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-374739-6.00154-8Ebel, B. A., K. Loague, and R. I. Borja, 2010, The impacts of hysteresis on variably-saturated hydrologic response and slope failure, Environmental Earth Sciences, 61, 1215-1225, doi: 10.1007/s12665-009-0445-2BeVille, S. H., B. B. Mirus, B. A. Ebel, G. G. Mader, and K. Loague, 2010, Using simulated hydrologic response to revisit the 1973 Lerida Court landslide, Environmental Earth Sciences, 61, 1249-1257, doi: 10.1007/s12665-010-0448-zEbel, B. A., K. Loague, D. R. Montgomery, and W. E. Dietrich, 2008, Physics-based continuous simulation of long-term near-surface hydrologic response for the Coos Bay experimental catchment, Water Resources Research, 44, W07417, doi:10.1029/2007WR006442Ebel, B. A., and K. Loague, 2008, Rapid simulated hydrologic response within the variably saturated near surface, Hydrological Processes, 22, 464-471, doi:10.1002/hyp.6926
Ebel, B. A., K. Loague, W. E. Dietrich, D. R. Montgomery, R. Torres, S. P. Anderson, and T. W. Giambelluca, 2007, Near-surface hydrologic response for a steep, unchanneled catchment near Coos Bay, Oregon: 1. Sprinkling experiments, American Journal of Science, 307, 678-708, doi:10.2475/04.2007.02Ebel, B. A., K. Loague, J. E. VanderKwaak, W. E. Dietrich, D. R. Montgomery, R. Torres, and S. P. Anderson, 2007, Near-surface hydrologic response for a steep, unchanneled catchment near Coos Bay, Oregon: 2. Physics-based simulations, American Journal of Science, 307, 709-748, doi:10.2475/04.2007.03Mirus, B. B., B. A. Ebel, K. Loague, and B. C. Wemple, 2007, Simulated effect of a forest road on near-surface hydrologic response: Redux, Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 32, 126–142, doi: 10.1002/esp.1387Ebel, B. A., and K. Loague, 2006, Physics-based hydrologic-response simulation: Seeing through the fog of equifinality, Hydrological Processes, 20, 2887–2900, doi:10.1002/hyp.6388
Borja, R. I., G. Oettl, B. Ebel, and K. Loague, 2006, Hydrologically driven slope failure initiation in variably saturated porous media. In Modern Trends in Geomechanics. Wu, W. and H.S. Yu (Eds.), pp. 303-311, Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg, doi: 10.1007/978-3-540-35724-7_18Loague, K., C. S. Heppner, B. B. Mirus, B. A. Ebel, Q. Ran, A. E. Carr, S. H. BeVille, and J. E. Vander Kwaak, 2006, Physics-based hydrologic-response simulation: foundation for hydroecology and hydrogeomorphology, Hydrological Processes, 20, 1231–1237, doi:10.1002/hyp.6388
Ehlmann, B. L., R. E. Arvidson, B. L. Jolliff, S. S. Johnson, B. Ebel, N. Lovenduski, J. D. Morris, J. A. Byers, N. O. Snider, and R. E. Criss, 2005, Hydrologic and Isotopic Modeling of Alpine Lake Waiau, Mauna Kea, Hawai‘i, Pacific Science, 59, 1–15, doi:10.1353/psc.2005.0005
Loague, K., C. S. Heppner, R. H. Abrams, A. E. Carr, J. E. VanderKwaak, and B. A. Ebel, 2005, Further testing of the Integrated Hydrology Model (InHM): event-based simulations for a small rangeland catchment located near Chickasha, Oklahoma, Hydrological Processes, 19, 1373–1398, doi:10.1002/hyp.5566**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.