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Incorrect interpretation of carbon mass balance biases global vegetation fire emission estimates

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  • N. C. Surawski

    (CSIRO Agriculture
    Present address: Energy, Environment and Water Research Center (EEWRC), The Cyprus Institute, PO Box 27456, Nicosia 2121, Cyprus)

  • A. L. Sullivan

    (CSIRO Land and Water)

  • S. H. Roxburgh

    (CSIRO Land and Water)

  • C.P. Mick Meyer

    (CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere)

  • P. J. Polglase

    (CSIRO Land and Water
    Present address: Fenner School of Environment & Society, Australian National University, Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia)

Abstract

Vegetation fires are a complex phenomenon in the Earth system with many global impacts, including influences on global climate. Estimating carbon emissions from vegetation fires relies on a carbon mass balance technique that has evolved with two different interpretations. Databases of global vegetation fire emissions use an approach based on ‘consumed biomass’, which is an approximation to the biogeochemically correct ‘burnt carbon’ approach. Here we show that applying the ‘consumed biomass’ approach to global emissions from vegetation fires leads to annual overestimates of carbon emitted to the atmosphere by 4.0% or 100 Tg compared with the ‘burnt carbon’ approach. The required correction is significant and represents ∼9% of the net global forest carbon sink estimated annually. Vegetation fire emission studies should use the ‘burnt carbon’ approach to quantify and understand the role of this burnt carbon, which is not emitted to the atmosphere, as a sink enriched in carbon.

Suggested Citation

  • N. C. Surawski & A. L. Sullivan & S. H. Roxburgh & C.P. Mick Meyer & P. J. Polglase, 2016. "Incorrect interpretation of carbon mass balance biases global vegetation fire emission estimates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-5, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11536
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11536
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