USGS fire science informs land, water, and emergency management decisions. Each year tens of thousands of wildfires cause billions of dollars of damage.
Rachel A Loehman, Ph.D.
My research focuses on understanding complex, multi-scale dynamics of natural and coupled human-natural systems, particularly focused on impacts of disturbance (climate changes, wildfires, insect outbreaks, erosion and sedimentation, invasive species) on landscapes, ecological communities, and natural and cultural resources.
Research summary
My projects integrate field studies, in-situ instrumentation and monitoring, ecosystem and fire models, geospatial and statistical modeling and analysis, and ecological theory to provide new insights into changing climates, disturbance regimes, and landscapes. Applications include development of strategies for restoration of forests and fire regimes, assessments of landscape resilience and vulnerability, reconstruction of long-term human-environment interactions, predictive models of climate-vegetation-disturbance interactions, quantification of fire impacts on above- and belowground cultural and natural resources, and development of new tools and techniques for quantifying and managing shifting environments. I work in coastal, boreal, and tundra ecosystems in Alaska as well as forest and woodland ecosystems in the interior west and southwestern U.S.
Science and Products
Spruce beetles as ecosystem engineers: Effects of spruce mortality on insect biodiversity and fire behavior in Denali National Park and Preserve
Spruce beetles ( Dendroctonus rufipennis ) are ecosystem engineers that can have substantial effects on forest structure. In 2015, a spruce beetle outbreak began in southcentral Alaska and as of 2021 has impacted 1.6 million acres of land (USFS 2021). This outbreak has expanded quickly and has crossed over the boundary of Denali National Park. Spruce beetles can alter the ecosystem by rapidly...
Ecosystems on the Edge: Landscape and Fire Ecology of Forests, Deserts, and Tundra
Climate changes and interacting disturbances such as wildfires, insect and disease outbreaks, and erosion and flooding can perturb and reorganize ecosystems.
Evaluating Cultural Resource Vulnerability To Fires And Post-Fire Impacts
Cultural resources are tangible and intangible elements connected to the physical presence, practices, cultural identity, and/or spirituality of past and present societies.
Advancing Fire Behavior Modeling For Post-Fire Hazards Assessments
Fire behavior is a complex and highly variable process in both space and time. The interdisciplinary PHIRE team includes USGS scientists from across the Mission Areas, research collaborators from universities and federal agencies, and federal, state, and tribal practitioners and stakeholders.
Post-Fire Hazards Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems (PHIRE): Support for Response, Recovery, and Mitigation
The Post-Fire Hazards Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems (PHIRE) project provides science to characterize climate-amplified, uncharacteristic patterns of wildfire disturbance and post-fire ecosystem recovery and enhance prediction of environmental impacts and post-fire hazards.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, California Water Science Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
How Do Critical Life History Stages Limit Plant Adaptation to Changing Climate? The Role of Seedling and Sapling Survivorship in Ecosystem Resilience
Ecosystems respond to disturbances (such as wildfire) and changing climate in a variety of ways, including persistence, recovery, and reorganization into new combinations. Some species respond by migrating across the landscape over time, which allows them to keep up with changing climate. Many forests recover after wildfire by regenerating from seeds, and public land managers often assist these pr
Synthesis of the new North American tree-ring fire-scar network: using past and present fire-climate relationships to improve projections of future wildfire
Increasing wildfire activity in much of North America is having severe impacts on society and ecosystems. Climate change is a key driver of changing fire regimes across North America, with varying expressions across the continent. Modern fire records, while useful, are too short to fully characterize the complex patterns and non-linear dynamics of fire-climate relationships that are required to un
Enhancing Climate Adaptation for Native Communities in Western Alaska: Linking Pollinator Diversity and Abundance to Berry Production in a Rapidly Changing Environment
Berry-producing plants, a key resource in Alaska Native communities, provide primary subsistence and have been integral to maintaining cultural cohesion, sense of place, and physical ties to the surrounding landscape. Despite the importance of berry-producing plants, relatively little is known about their vulnerability to changes in climate and environmental conditions. The dynamics of insect popu
From Refugia to Resilience: Wildfires, Changing Climate, and Landscape Transformation in the Southwestern U.S.
In ecosystems of the southwestern US intensifying wildfires and climatic shifts are causing widespread tree mortality and slowed recovery after fires. Ecological refugia are areas that retain intact biological features or ecological processes after disturbance. These refugia are essential for the survival of a wide array of species and communities and aid in ecosystem recovery by repopulating surr
Science to Help Move From Mortality to Recovery in Western Forests and Woodlands
Healthy forests and woodlands in the western United States provide many important benefits, including providing habitat for wildlife, forage for livestock, and clean water for fish and human use. Yet climate change and other stressors, from wildfires and insect attacks to severe droughts, are causing unprecedented tree die offs across the region, threatening many of these ecosystem services. Follo
Filter Total Items: 29
Wildfire Stats
USGS fire science informs land, water, and emergency management decisions. Each year tens of thousands of wildfires cause billions of dollars of damage.
Meet a Fire Scientist: Rachel A. Loehman
MEET A FIRE SCIENTIST: Rachel A Loehman, Ph.D.
I study the complexities between people and nature, particularly the impacts of wildfires on landscapes, habitats, and natural resources
MEET A FIRE SCIENTIST: Rachel A Loehman, Ph.D.
I study the complexities between people and nature, particularly the impacts of wildfires on landscapes, habitats, and natural resources
Visual Abstract for Fire Modeling Integration
Workflow for integrating fire behavior modeling into post-fire hazard risk models. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
Workflow for integrating fire behavior modeling into post-fire hazard risk models. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
3D QUIC-Fire Visualization
Example of a three-dimensional QUIC-Fire simulation. The example site is located in the Dixie Fire, CA. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
Example of a three-dimensional QUIC-Fire simulation. The example site is located in the Dixie Fire, CA. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
Using Terrestrial LiDAR
Using terrestrial LiDAR to characterize fuels within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park site to understand potential future fire behavior and its effects on artifacts. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Using terrestrial LiDAR to characterize fuels within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park site to understand potential future fire behavior and its effects on artifacts. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Setting up Fuel Transects
Setting up fuel transects within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park to understand potential future fire behavior and how it could affect artifacts within the site. Pictured: Grant Snitker (foreground) and Alex Fetteroff (background), New Mexico Consortium. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Setting up fuel transects within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park to understand potential future fire behavior and how it could affect artifacts within the site. Pictured: Grant Snitker (foreground) and Alex Fetteroff (background), New Mexico Consortium. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
A Precontact Rockshelter and Associated Artifacts
A precontact rockshelter and associated artifacts impacted by the combustion of heavy fuels during the KNP Complex Fire, California. Copyright: photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
A precontact rockshelter and associated artifacts impacted by the combustion of heavy fuels during the KNP Complex Fire, California. Copyright: photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Historic Cans
Historic cans from a refuse pile that were scorched by the combustion of nearby fuels during the Caldor Fire, California. Copyright: photo taken by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Historic cans from a refuse pile that were scorched by the combustion of nearby fuels during the Caldor Fire, California. Copyright: photo taken by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
USGS ecologists map monitor vegetation and landscape characteristics
USGS ecologists map and monitor vegetation and landscape characteristics at long-term ecological monitoring sites on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
USGS ecologists map and monitor vegetation and landscape characteristics at long-term ecological monitoring sites on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts at a repeat fire site in Wrangells-St. Elias National Park, AK
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts at a repeat fire site in Wrangells-St. Elias National Park, AK
Installing Tide Gauges
Installing tide gauges in rivers of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is dirty work.
Location: Tutakoke River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Installing tide gauges in rivers of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is dirty work.
Location: Tutakoke River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK lead to increased erosion and sedimentation of coastal waterways
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK lead to increased erosion and sedimentation of coastal waterways
Field camp in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
Field camp in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK, where USGS and other ecologists monitor impacts of climate changes, erosion, sedimentation, and flooding on coastal ecosystems
Field camp in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK, where USGS and other ecologists monitor impacts of climate changes, erosion, sedimentation, and flooding on coastal ecosystems
An Alaska Native village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
An Alaska Native village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
An Alaska Native village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
Fire ecologists record post-fire information
Fire ecologists record post-fire information on tree mortality, fuel consumption, and vegetation communities to better understand and predict fire impacts, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
Fire ecologists record post-fire information on tree mortality, fuel consumption, and vegetation communities to better understand and predict fire impacts, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
A smoke plume from a wildland fire Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
A smoke plume from a wildland fire rises above a spruce stand in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
A smoke plume from a wildland fire rises above a spruce stand in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
Assessing the severity of the Funny River fire on the Kenai Peninsula
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services.
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services.
Reburns are becoming more common in many parts of Alaska
Reburns, or fires that burn more frequently than expected, are becoming more common in Alaska and can cause major changes in vegetation composition, wildlife habitat, and landscape resilience
Reburns, or fires that burn more frequently than expected, are becoming more common in Alaska and can cause major changes in vegetation composition, wildlife habitat, and landscape resilience
Fire effects monitoring after the Funny River Fire, Kenai Peninsula AK
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services
A managed wildfire burns in a Ponderosa pine stand, New Mexico
A managed wildfire burns in a Ponderosa pine stand, New Mexico
A managed wildfire burns in a Ponderosa pine stand, New Mexico
Reducing the likelihood of fire damage to archaeological resources
Fuel treatments and prescribed fires can be used to reduce the likelihood that archaeological resources will be damaged by high severity fires
Fuel treatments and prescribed fires can be used to reduce the likelihood that archaeological resources will be damaged by high severity fires
Science and Products
Spruce beetles as ecosystem engineers: Effects of spruce mortality on insect biodiversity and fire behavior in Denali National Park and Preserve
Spruce beetles ( Dendroctonus rufipennis ) are ecosystem engineers that can have substantial effects on forest structure. In 2015, a spruce beetle outbreak began in southcentral Alaska and as of 2021 has impacted 1.6 million acres of land (USFS 2021). This outbreak has expanded quickly and has crossed over the boundary of Denali National Park. Spruce beetles can alter the ecosystem by rapidly...
Ecosystems on the Edge: Landscape and Fire Ecology of Forests, Deserts, and Tundra
Climate changes and interacting disturbances such as wildfires, insect and disease outbreaks, and erosion and flooding can perturb and reorganize ecosystems.
Evaluating Cultural Resource Vulnerability To Fires And Post-Fire Impacts
Cultural resources are tangible and intangible elements connected to the physical presence, practices, cultural identity, and/or spirituality of past and present societies.
Advancing Fire Behavior Modeling For Post-Fire Hazards Assessments
Fire behavior is a complex and highly variable process in both space and time. The interdisciplinary PHIRE team includes USGS scientists from across the Mission Areas, research collaborators from universities and federal agencies, and federal, state, and tribal practitioners and stakeholders.
Post-Fire Hazards Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems (PHIRE): Support for Response, Recovery, and Mitigation
The Post-Fire Hazards Impacts to Resources and Ecosystems (PHIRE) project provides science to characterize climate-amplified, uncharacteristic patterns of wildfire disturbance and post-fire ecosystem recovery and enhance prediction of environmental impacts and post-fire hazards.
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Land Management Research Program, Alaska Science Center, California Water Science Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Fort Collins Science Center, Washington Water Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wildland Fire Science
How Do Critical Life History Stages Limit Plant Adaptation to Changing Climate? The Role of Seedling and Sapling Survivorship in Ecosystem Resilience
Ecosystems respond to disturbances (such as wildfire) and changing climate in a variety of ways, including persistence, recovery, and reorganization into new combinations. Some species respond by migrating across the landscape over time, which allows them to keep up with changing climate. Many forests recover after wildfire by regenerating from seeds, and public land managers often assist these pr
Synthesis of the new North American tree-ring fire-scar network: using past and present fire-climate relationships to improve projections of future wildfire
Increasing wildfire activity in much of North America is having severe impacts on society and ecosystems. Climate change is a key driver of changing fire regimes across North America, with varying expressions across the continent. Modern fire records, while useful, are too short to fully characterize the complex patterns and non-linear dynamics of fire-climate relationships that are required to un
Enhancing Climate Adaptation for Native Communities in Western Alaska: Linking Pollinator Diversity and Abundance to Berry Production in a Rapidly Changing Environment
Berry-producing plants, a key resource in Alaska Native communities, provide primary subsistence and have been integral to maintaining cultural cohesion, sense of place, and physical ties to the surrounding landscape. Despite the importance of berry-producing plants, relatively little is known about their vulnerability to changes in climate and environmental conditions. The dynamics of insect popu
From Refugia to Resilience: Wildfires, Changing Climate, and Landscape Transformation in the Southwestern U.S.
In ecosystems of the southwestern US intensifying wildfires and climatic shifts are causing widespread tree mortality and slowed recovery after fires. Ecological refugia are areas that retain intact biological features or ecological processes after disturbance. These refugia are essential for the survival of a wide array of species and communities and aid in ecosystem recovery by repopulating surr
Science to Help Move From Mortality to Recovery in Western Forests and Woodlands
Healthy forests and woodlands in the western United States provide many important benefits, including providing habitat for wildlife, forage for livestock, and clean water for fish and human use. Yet climate change and other stressors, from wildfires and insect attacks to severe droughts, are causing unprecedented tree die offs across the region, threatening many of these ecosystem services. Follo
Filter Total Items: 29
Wildfire Stats
USGS fire science informs land, water, and emergency management decisions. Each year tens of thousands of wildfires cause billions of dollars of damage.
USGS fire science informs land, water, and emergency management decisions. Each year tens of thousands of wildfires cause billions of dollars of damage.
Meet a Fire Scientist: Rachel A. Loehman
MEET A FIRE SCIENTIST: Rachel A Loehman, Ph.D.
I study the complexities between people and nature, particularly the impacts of wildfires on landscapes, habitats, and natural resources
MEET A FIRE SCIENTIST: Rachel A Loehman, Ph.D.
I study the complexities between people and nature, particularly the impacts of wildfires on landscapes, habitats, and natural resources
Visual Abstract for Fire Modeling Integration
Workflow for integrating fire behavior modeling into post-fire hazard risk models. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
Workflow for integrating fire behavior modeling into post-fire hazard risk models. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
3D QUIC-Fire Visualization
Example of a three-dimensional QUIC-Fire simulation. The example site is located in the Dixie Fire, CA. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
Example of a three-dimensional QUIC-Fire simulation. The example site is located in the Dixie Fire, CA. QUIC-Fire is a fast, 3-D simulation tool for prescribed fire planning. It can help managers understand the complex and dynamic behavior of wildland fires.
Using Terrestrial LiDAR
Using terrestrial LiDAR to characterize fuels within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park site to understand potential future fire behavior and its effects on artifacts. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Using terrestrial LiDAR to characterize fuels within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park site to understand potential future fire behavior and its effects on artifacts. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Setting up Fuel Transects
Setting up fuel transects within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park to understand potential future fire behavior and how it could affect artifacts within the site. Pictured: Grant Snitker (foreground) and Alex Fetteroff (background), New Mexico Consortium. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Setting up fuel transects within an archaeological site at Sequoia National Park to understand potential future fire behavior and how it could affect artifacts within the site. Pictured: Grant Snitker (foreground) and Alex Fetteroff (background), New Mexico Consortium. Copyright: Photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
A Precontact Rockshelter and Associated Artifacts
A precontact rockshelter and associated artifacts impacted by the combustion of heavy fuels during the KNP Complex Fire, California. Copyright: photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
A precontact rockshelter and associated artifacts impacted by the combustion of heavy fuels during the KNP Complex Fire, California. Copyright: photo by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Historic Cans
Historic cans from a refuse pile that were scorched by the combustion of nearby fuels during the Caldor Fire, California. Copyright: photo taken by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
Historic cans from a refuse pile that were scorched by the combustion of nearby fuels during the Caldor Fire, California. Copyright: photo taken by Grant Snitker, New Mexico Consortium.
USGS ecologists map monitor vegetation and landscape characteristics
USGS ecologists map and monitor vegetation and landscape characteristics at long-term ecological monitoring sites on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
USGS ecologists map and monitor vegetation and landscape characteristics at long-term ecological monitoring sites on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts at a repeat fire site in Wrangells-St. Elias National Park, AK
Fire ecologists discuss wildfire impacts at a repeat fire site in Wrangells-St. Elias National Park, AK
Installing Tide Gauges
Installing tide gauges in rivers of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is dirty work.
Location: Tutakoke River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Installing tide gauges in rivers of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta is dirty work.
Location: Tutakoke River, Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK lead to increased erosion and sedimentation of coastal waterways
Large storm surges in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, AK lead to increased erosion and sedimentation of coastal waterways
Field camp in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
Field camp in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK, where USGS and other ecologists monitor impacts of climate changes, erosion, sedimentation, and flooding on coastal ecosystems
Field camp in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK, where USGS and other ecologists monitor impacts of climate changes, erosion, sedimentation, and flooding on coastal ecosystems
An Alaska Native village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
An Alaska Native village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
An Alaska Native village on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, western AK
Fire ecologists record post-fire information
Fire ecologists record post-fire information on tree mortality, fuel consumption, and vegetation communities to better understand and predict fire impacts, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
Fire ecologists record post-fire information on tree mortality, fuel consumption, and vegetation communities to better understand and predict fire impacts, Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
A smoke plume from a wildland fire Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
A smoke plume from a wildland fire rises above a spruce stand in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
A smoke plume from a wildland fire rises above a spruce stand in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, AK
Assessing the severity of the Funny River fire on the Kenai Peninsula
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services.
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services.
Reburns are becoming more common in many parts of Alaska
Reburns, or fires that burn more frequently than expected, are becoming more common in Alaska and can cause major changes in vegetation composition, wildlife habitat, and landscape resilience
Reburns, or fires that burn more frequently than expected, are becoming more common in Alaska and can cause major changes in vegetation composition, wildlife habitat, and landscape resilience
Fire effects monitoring after the Funny River Fire, Kenai Peninsula AK
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services
Pre- and post-fire measurements of fire effects help ecologists, fire scientists, and managers determine how the severity of wildfires affects plants, animal habitat, and ecosystem services
A managed wildfire burns in a Ponderosa pine stand, New Mexico
A managed wildfire burns in a Ponderosa pine stand, New Mexico
A managed wildfire burns in a Ponderosa pine stand, New Mexico
Reducing the likelihood of fire damage to archaeological resources
Fuel treatments and prescribed fires can be used to reduce the likelihood that archaeological resources will be damaged by high severity fires
Fuel treatments and prescribed fires can be used to reduce the likelihood that archaeological resources will be damaged by high severity fires
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government