Seismic lines are cleared corridors for the location mapping of subsurface bitumen. After use, the lines can be left to regenerate naturally with varying success. Wildfires, another prominent disturbance in the Boreal region, are propagated by continuous fuel distribution (coarse/fine), meteorological variables (e.g., wind speed, temperature, and precipitation), and the moisture content of the fuel and soil. However, little is known about seismic lines and the potential risk and severity of wildfires. This work presents a case study of wildfire variables on two paired (seismic line and adjacent natural area) sites near Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada. Wind speed was increased on seismic lines, and the dominant wind direction changed. Higher precipitation, air temperature, and soil moisture and reduced water table depths were observed on seismic lines. Coarse fuel distribution was not continuous on seismic lines; however, fine fuels were. Although the Fire Weather Index (FWI) indicated an enhanced wildfire potential on one line (NS orientation), peat smouldering and ignition models (H_comb/H_ign) showed increased smouldering potential on both seismic lines compared to adjacent natural areas. Future work should focus on expanding the diversity of seismic line characterization, working towards the landscape-scale modelling of these variables.

Linear disturbances are widespread in the boreal region of Alberta, Canada. Despite their ubiquitous nature, little is known about their influence on over‐winter meteorological conditions and if and how they alter the snowpack and soil temperature profiles through altered energy and water balances in the wintertime. The presence of seismic lines could affect hydrological processes in both the wintertime and warm months. This will then affect plant communities and carbon cycling on these disturbances. Thus, understanding the effect of seismic lines on meteorological conditions during cold weather conditions will be important to better understand how they alter ecosystem function. Accordingly, this study aims to assess the effect of two seismic lines with different orientations created for petroleum resource exploration on energy and meteorological variables by comparing them with the near surface conditions in the adjacent wooded peatland area from October 2022 to April 2023. We observed 1.8 times higher photon flux density of photosynthetically active radiation on the linear disturbances than in the understory of the undisturbed locations and a greater negative net radiation on the seismic lines compared with that observed off the lines. Furthermore, the average wind speed on the seismic lines were eight and seven times higher at the east–west and south–north oriented seismic lines than the adjacent wooded peatland, respectively. Together, these changes resulted in a denser snowpack on the seismic line and overall higher snow water equivalent in the pre‐melt snowpack. This provided insulation for the soil, and soil temperature on the lines stayed above freezing 7 days longer at the east–west oriented site or retained non‐freezing condition at the south–north oriented site in the upper 15 cm. This would result in more microbial activity and potential higher over‐winter carbon releases.

Seismic lines are 1.5 to 10 m wide linear corridors associated with petroleum exploration that fragment the landscape of northern Alberta. After clearing, seismic lines frequently exhibit low seedling recruitment and growth rates, due in part to the altered hydrologic conditions on the line. This research quantifies how seismic lines alter soil hydrophysical properties, hydrologic properties and snow accumulation patterns at two sites south of Fort McMurray, Alberta. During 2021 and 2022, water table levels were measured weekly during the summer months and were paired with measurements of soil properties (bulk density, saturated hydraulic conductivity, porosity and specific yield) on seismic lines and in the adjacent matrix. Bulk density increased on seismic lines by 19% and 113% in lowland and upland ecosystems, respectively. Saturated hydraulic conductivity decreased on seismic lines by one order of magnitude for both upland and lowland ecosystems. Water table variability was increased on seismic lines, but depth to water table was related to external factors such as topographic position. Snow measurements in March 2022 indicated that snow water equivalent was greater on seismic lines that were oriented in the East–West (EW) direction and on lines that were widest compared to SWE within the adjacent matrix. Our results provide information to researchers and industry on the alteration of important ecosystem factors on seismic lines that may limit line recovery trajectories. This information will help to guide restoration planning decisions through an enhanced knowledge of limiting factors for vegetation growth on seismic lines.