Record-high CO2 emissions from boreal fires in 2021.
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| Title: | Record-high CO2 emissions from boreal fires in 2021. |
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| Authors: | Bo Zheng, Ciais, Philippe, Chevallier, Frederic, Yang, Hui, Canadell, Josep G., Yang Chen, van der Velde, Ivar R., Aben, Ilse, Chuvieco, Emilio, Davis, Steven J., Deeter, Merritt, Chaopeng Hong, Yawen Kong, Haiyan Li, Hui Li, Xin Lin, He, Kebin, Qiang Zhang |
| Source: | Science (pre-March 2025). 3/3/2023, Vol. 379 Issue 6635, p912-917. 6p. 5 Graphs. |
| Subjects: | Carbon emissions, Wildfires, Taigas, Climate change mitigation, Biomes |
| Abstract: | Extreme wildfires are becoming more common and increasingly affecting Earth’s climate. Wildfires in boreal forests have attracted much less attention than those in tropical forests, although boreal forests are one of the most extensive biomes on Earth and are experiencing the fastest warming. We used a satellite-based atmospheric inversion system to monitor fire emissions in boreal forests. Wildfires are rapidly expanding into boreal forests with emerging warmer and drier fire seasons. Boreal fires, typically accounting for 10% of global fire carbon dioxide emissions, contributed 23% (0.48 billion metric tons of carbon) in 2021, by far the highest fraction since 2000. 2021 was an abnormal year because North American and Eurasian boreal forests synchronously experienced their greatest water deficit. Increasing numbers of extreme boreal fires and stronger climate–fire feedbacks challenge climate mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Extreme wildfires are becoming more common and increasingly affecting Earth’s climate. Wildfires in boreal forests have attracted much less attention than those in tropical forests, although boreal forests are one of the most extensive biomes on Earth and are experiencing the fastest warming. We used a satellite-based atmospheric inversion system to monitor fire emissions in boreal forests. Wildfires are rapidly expanding into boreal forests with emerging warmer and drier fire seasons. Boreal fires, typically accounting for 10% of global fire carbon dioxide emissions, contributed 23% (0.48 billion metric tons of carbon) in 2021, by far the highest fraction since 2000. 2021 was an abnormal year because North American and Eurasian boreal forests synchronously experienced their greatest water deficit. Increasing numbers of extreme boreal fires and stronger climate–fire feedbacks challenge climate mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 00368075 |
| DOI: | 10.1126/science.ade0805 |
