TY - JOUR
T1 - Boreal forest fires burn less intensely in Russia than in North America
AU - Wooster, M J
AU - Zhang, Y H
PY - 2004/10/28
Y1 - 2004/10/28
N2 - Around 5 - 20 million hectares of boreal forest burns annually, mainly in Russia and North America. However, there are reports of significant differences in predominant fire type between these regions, which may have major implications for overall emissions of carbon, gases and aerosols. We examine boreal forest fire intensities via MODIS observations of fire radiative energy release rate. Results support the contention of a consistent difference in fire intensity and mean fuel consumption in Russia and North America, due to differences in dominant fire type. North American fires have higher mean intensities, increasing in proportion to percentage tree cover, characteristics indicating likely crown fire dominance. Russian fires have lower mean intensities, independent of percentage tree cover, characteristics more indicative of surface fire activity. Per unit area burnt, the results suggest Russian fires may burn less fuel and emit fewer products to the atmosphere than do those in North America.
AB - Around 5 - 20 million hectares of boreal forest burns annually, mainly in Russia and North America. However, there are reports of significant differences in predominant fire type between these regions, which may have major implications for overall emissions of carbon, gases and aerosols. We examine boreal forest fire intensities via MODIS observations of fire radiative energy release rate. Results support the contention of a consistent difference in fire intensity and mean fuel consumption in Russia and North America, due to differences in dominant fire type. North American fires have higher mean intensities, increasing in proportion to percentage tree cover, characteristics indicating likely crown fire dominance. Russian fires have lower mean intensities, independent of percentage tree cover, characteristics more indicative of surface fire activity. Per unit area burnt, the results suggest Russian fires may burn less fuel and emit fewer products to the atmosphere than do those in North America.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=11844278424&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1029/2004GL020805
DO - 10.1029/2004GL020805
M3 - Article
SN - 1944-8007
VL - 31
SP - L20505 1-3
JO - GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
JF - GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
IS - 20
M1 - L20505
ER -