The impact of boreal forest fire on climate warming

J. T. Randerson, H. Liu, M. G. Flanner, S. D. Chambers, Y. Jin, P. G. Hess, G. Pfister, M. C. Mack, K. K. Treseder, L. R. Welp, F. S. Chapin, J. W. Harden, M. L. Goulden, E. Lyons, J. C. Neff, E. A.G. Schuur, C. S. Zender

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

687 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report measurements and analysis of a boreal forest fire, integrating the effects of greenhouse gases, aerosols, black carbon deposition on snow and sea ice, and postfire changes in surface albedo. The net effect of all agents was to increase radiative forcing during the first year (34 ± 31 Watts per square meter of burned area), but to decrease radiative forcing when averaged over an 80-year fire cycle (-2.3 ± 2.2 Watts per square meter) because multidecadal increases in surface albedo had a larger impact than fire-emitted greenhouse gases. This result implies that future increases in boreal fire may not accelerate climate warming.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1130-1132
Number of pages3
JournalScience
Volume314
Issue number5802
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 17 2006
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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