Recent studies indicate that lightning is primarily responsible for wildfires in intact extratropical forests, with a significant 77% of fires traced back to this natural cause. This contrasts sharply with the predominance of human-induced fires in tropical regions. Climate change exacerbates this issue by not only increasing the frequency of lightning but also making forests more susceptible to burning. These forests are vital for storing carbon, and their increasing vulnerability to wildfires poses a significant risk.
The research, led by Dr. Matthew Jones of the University of East Anglia and conducted in collaboration with various global institutions, was published in Nature Geoscience on November 9. It highlights the growing threat of lightning fires in boreal forests, crucial for global carbon storage.
The study employed machine learning to distinguish between human and lightning-caused wildfires worldwide, utilizing data from seven regions. It’s the first to globally attribute fire ignition sources, revealing a striking 77% link to lightning in intact extratropical forests, unlike the tropics where human activity is the primary cause.
As global temperatures rise, lightning frequency is predicted to increase by 11 to 31 percent per degree of warming over these forests. Lightning fires are generally larger and more intense than human-caused fires, and they tend to occur in remote areas under extremely dry conditions.
These forests, already more prone to fire due to climate-induced changes, face a compounded threat from both increased lightning strikes and greater forest flammability.
Boreal forests, especially in the northern hemisphere, are significant carbon reservoirs, both in vegetation and permafrost soils. Wildfires in these regions release disproportionately high amounts of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Despite covering a mere 1% of the Earth’s land surface, these forests account for over 8% of global CO2 emissions from fires.
The study projects that by the century’s end, under moderate emission scenarios, wildfires could amplify emissions from permafrost thaw by 30%.
Dr. Jones emphasized the importance of these forests in mitigating global warming due to their carbon storage capacity. However, increased CO2 emissions from wildfires in these areas pose a severe threat, intensified by the likelihood of more frequent and intense lightning strikes under a warming climate.
This research gains added relevance considering Canada’s unprecedented fire season in 2023, where preliminary reports suggest a high incidence of lightning ignitions. This trend mirrors record-breaking fire seasons in Siberian boreal forests in 2020 and 2021.
The authors caution that greenhouse gas emissions from these fires could perpetuate a feedback loop, escalating climate change and leading to more frequent and severe fires. Dr. Jones highlights the urgency of curbing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the escalating risk of wildfires, particularly in boreal forests sensitive to climate warming.
This groundbreaking study, titled “Extratropical forests increasingly at risk due to lightning fires,” published in Nature Geoscience, provides crucial insights into the escalating wildfire risks in boreal forests and underscores the importance of climate action to preserve these vital carbon sinks.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Boreal Forest Wildfires
What is the main cause of wildfires in boreal forests according to recent studies?
Recent studies have identified lightning as the primary cause of wildfires in boreal forests, accounting for about 77% of fires in these regions. This is in contrast to tropical regions where human activities are the major cause of wildfires.
How does climate change affect the frequency of lightning-induced wildfires?
Climate change is increasing the frequency of lightning strikes, which in turn raises the likelihood of wildfires in boreal forests. Predictions indicate an 11 to 31 percent increase in lightning frequency per degree of global warming over these forests.
Why are boreal forests important in the context of global carbon storage?
Boreal forests are crucial for global carbon storage as they hold vast quantities of carbon in their vegetation and permafrost soils. This makes them key players in mitigating the effects of global warming.
What impact do wildfires have on boreal forests’ carbon storage capabilities?
Wildfires in boreal forests release large amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, significantly more per unit area than in other regions. This diminishes the forests’ ability to store carbon, thereby exacerbating global warming.
What are the predictions for future wildfire risks in boreal forests?
The research predicts that future increases in lightning ignitions, coupled with warmer and drier conditions, will lead to a heightened risk of wildfires in boreal forests. This poses a threat to their role as significant carbon sinks.
How does the study link current fire seasons to its findings?
The study’s findings are particularly relevant in light of recent record-breaking fire seasons in Canada and Siberia, where a high incidence of lightning ignitions has been reported, aligning with the predicted increase in lightning-induced wildfires due to climate change.
More about Boreal Forest Wildfires
- Nature Geoscience Study
- Boreal Forests and Wildfires
- Climate Change and Lightning Frequency
- Carbon Storage in Boreal Forests
- Impact of Wildfires on Carbon Emissions
- Global Warming and Forest Flammability
- University of East Anglia Research
- Permafrost and Wildfire Emissions
- Machine Learning in Wildfire Prediction
- Canada’s 2023 Fire Season Analysis
4 comments
Wow, 77% of fires caused by lightning? thats a lot. makes you wonder what we can do to prevent these kinda things, or if it’s just nature doing its thing
interesting study but kinda scary to think how much climate change is affecting things like this, didnt realize how important these forests are for carbon storage
so machine learning can predict wildfires now, that’s pretty cool. but the part about permafrost melting and adding to co2 emissions, that’s not good at all
I read about Canada’s fire season being bad this year but tying it to global warming like this really puts things in perspective, we gotta take better care of our planet!