After severe wildfires and heavy rains, which soil horizon is most likely to remain intact with little disturbance?

The C horizon is most likely to remain intact with little disturbance after severe wildfires and heavy rains because it is made up primarily of weathered rock and mineral material that has undergone minimal alteration. This layer lies beneath the topsoil (A horizon) and subsoil (B horizon), and its composition makes it less susceptible to disturbances caused by surface events, such as wildfires and heavy rainfall.

Wildfires tend to heavily impact the organic material present in the O horizon, which can be completely consumed by fire. The A horizon, which contains a mixture of organic matter and minerals, often experiences erosion and mixing due to heavy rains and the loss of vegetation cover, leading to soil instability. The E horizon, associated with leaching and mineral loss, is also particularly vulnerable to disturbance from such environmental events.

In contrast, the C horizon's deeper location and composition allow it to remain relatively unaffected by the immediate aftermath of such disturbances, maintaining its integrity while changes occur in the upper soil layers.