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GEOG 457Wildfire and Landscape Change

Units
0.50
Faculty
Environment
Subject
Geography and Environmental Management

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 2 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

Wildfire is a global phenomenon that is expected to increase in extent and severity due to fuel accumulation, shifting land management practices, and climate change. Removal of vegetation by wildfire can alter hydrologic, biogeochemical, and geomorphic processes over a range of spatial and temporal scales in a manner that can be transient or persistent. Alteration of these processes can involve complex responses in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems which pose significant financial, environmental, planning, and management challenges. This course will examine the role of climate warming on wildfire behaviour, the impacts of wildfire on landscape form and function, and its impact on hydrologic and geomorphic processes in wildfire impacted landscapes across the globe.

Prerequisites

  • Students must be in level 3A or higher

Antirequisites

  • Not completed nor concurrently enrolled in:

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Reviewed on UW Flow

80% liked it81% easy75% useful

From 5 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Decent course, but "wildfire" is a bit deceiving. This is mostly a HYDROLOGY course that focuses on watershed impacts after wildfire events. Only evaluations are three tests, two mid-terms and one final. Just study the guide and you'll be fine, but don't just rely on the guide, make sure you also review the overall course content as well.

    Apr 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • This course leaned heavily into hydrology and geomorphology. That said, all the course concepts were super interconnected so once you understand the basic terms you'll be fine. The grading scheme was two 30% quizzes and a 40% exam, and Prof Stone provided study guides for each that closely aligned with the actual quiz content. The lecture slides don't have a lot of notes on them, but you'll do well if you go to the classes and pay attention. I personally LOVED the course and subject, and finished with a 97%.

    Mar 2026 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Very interesting course if you like physical geography. The course was comprised of 2 quizzes worth 20% each, 2 assignments worth 10% each, and a final exam worth 40% so the course load is super manageable. The questions on the quizzes were always super similar to the quiz guides we were given so as long as you study those you'll do well. Additionally the assignments weren't hard either and were graded fairly. The only negative thing is that there is very little information on the lecture slides, so if you miss a class you will miss all the content for it. So as long as you make sure to go to class you'll do great!

    Apr 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar