Fire in the Earth System
University of Tasmania · Woodwell Climate Research Center · +20 more institutions
Abstract
Fire is a worldwide phenomenon that appears in the geological record soon after the appearance of terrestrial plants. Fire influences global ecosystem patterns and processes, including vegetation distribution and structure, the carbon cycle, and climate. Although humans and fire have always coexisted, our capacity to manage fire remains imperfect and may become more difficult in the future as climate change alters fire regimes. This risk is difficult to assess, however, because fires are still poorly represented in global models. Here, we discuss some of the most important issues involved in developing a better understanding of the role of fire in the Earth system.
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 90.45
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 282
Authors
22- DMDavid M. J. S. BowmanCorresponding
University of Tasmania
- JKJennifer K. BalchCorresponding
Woodwell Climate Research Center, Yale University, National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
- PAPaulo Artaxo
Universidade de São Paulo
- WJWilliam J. Bond
University of Cape Town
- JMJean M. Carlson
University of California, Santa Barbara
Topics & keywords
- Earth system science
- Biodiversity
- Climate change
- Environmental resource management
- Ecosystem
- Earth (classical element)
- Environmental science
- Ecology
- Life in Land