Beyond slash-and-burn: The roles of human activities,altered hydrology and fuels in peat fires in Central Kalimantan,Indonesia

Near-annual landscape-scale fires in Indonesia's peatlands have caused severe air pollution, economic losses, and health impacts for millions of Southeast Asia residents. While the extent of fires across the peatland surface has been widely attributed to widespread peatland drainage for plantation agriculture, fires that transition from surface into sub-surface soil-based fires are the source of the most dangerous air pollution. Yet the mechanisms by which this transition occurs have rarely been considered, particularly in diversely managed landscapes. Integrating physical geography methods, including active fire scene evaluations and hydrological monitoring, with qualitative methods such as retrospective fire scene evaluations and semi-structured interviews, this article discusses how and why sub-surface peat fire transition occurs in an intensively altered peatland ecosystem in Indonesia's Central Kalimantan province. We demonstrate that variable water table levels and flammable surface vegetation (fire fuels) are co-produced socio-political and biophysical phenomena that enable the conditions in which surface fire is likely to transition into peat fire and increase landscape vulnerability to ongoing, uncontrollable annual fires. This localized understanding of peat fire transition counters normative causal narratives of tropical fire such as ‘slash-and-burn’, with implications for the management of new fire regimes in inhabited landscapes.     

Spatial Ecology of Pre –Euro‐American Fires in a Southern Rocky Mountain Subalpine Forest Landscape

Natural disturbances such as fires have been widely studied, but less is known about their spatial ecology than about other aspects of them. We reconstructed and mapped pre–Euro‐American fire history in a subalpine forest landscape in southeastern Wyoming, and analyzed the fires using GIS. Mean fire interval varies little with topography (elevation, aspect, slope) and is spatially autocorrelated at distances of at least 2 km. Fires often spread downslope, and spread more than expected from the north and south and less than expected from the west, under the influence of particular synoptic climatic conditions. The landscape of 1868 a.d., at the time of Euro‐American settlement, was strongly influenced by fires. However, it contained large patches of connected forest and few high‐contrast edges, unlike the modern landscape, which is fragmented by industrial forestry and roads. The spatial ecology of the natural fire regime may be a useful guide for management.     

Steppe Fires in Conditions the Regime of Reserve and Under Changing Anthropogenic Impacts

An analysis of geoinformation data on the spread of steppe fires is proposed, the areas of which are identified on the basis of a series of Landsat satellite images for 1984–2015. We selected five key sites located in different geographic areas of the Transvolga region and South Ural, covering clusters of the Orenburgskii state nature as well as adjacent agricultural areas. By analyzing the long-term dynamics, we determined a widespread trend of an intensification of steppe fires. Since the mid-1990s till the present, it has manifested itself in a significant increase in the area of occurrence and in recurrence frequency. It has been established that the cause for an intensification of fires in the steppe regions is a significant reduction in agricultural production, accompanied by restoration of vegetation cover on unused lands and accumulation of dry phytomass. It was determined that, given the favorable conditions for the occurrence of fires, the weather and climate factors increased in importance, implying a higher amplitude of fluctuations in the areas of the burnt-over areas, especially in abnormal years. Data on the current frequency of grass fires (both in protected areas and in a large part of agricultural lands) indicate that the vegetation cover and other components of steppe ecosystems are constantly in a state of post-pyrogenic succession. Using an example of one of the sites (the Burtinskaya steppe), a high restorative capacity of tree-shrub areas within the boundaries of the ecotopes occupied by them was revealed. It was noted that the absolute regime of reserve that excludes any economic activities, combined with an intensification of fire phenomena in the adjacent territories, gives rise to an acute fire-hazardous situation. It is pointed out that there is a need to establish a unified system for ecological monitoring of fires.     

SPATIAL PROPERTIES OF LIGHTNING-CAUSED FOREST FIRES

Some 2088 lightning-caused forest fires that occurred between 1960 and 1971 in northern Idaho are described and analyzed relative to the properties of pattern, central tendency, and spatial variability. Pattern analysis reveals that randomness characterizes both the distribution of total fires and of annual mean areal centers. A model is proposed relating the latitudinal and longitudinal behavior of mean areal centers to shifts in storm tracks and resultant adjustments in fuel-moisture conditions. Rank correlation analysis reveals that northwest shifts in mean areal centers are associated with higher fuel-moisture conditions whereas southeast movements in mean areal centers are related to reduced fuel-moisture conditions. No significant differences were revealed in the variability of the annual standard distances of fire distribution, nor was there any association between temperature and azimuthal adjustments in mean areal centers.     

The manifestation of the pyrogenic factor in the geosystem dynamics of the southwestern Baikal region

The manifestation conditions for the pyrogenic factor in the geosystem dynamics of the southwestern Baikal region are outlined. The distribution of forest fires in the territory, and the conditions of their occurrence and spread are considered. The need to put territorially differentiated fire-control measures into effect is substantiated.     

Comparing Conditions of Labor-Intensive Forestry and Fire Suppression Workers

Since the late 1970s, labor-intensive forest workers in the Pacific Northwest have been mostly Latino. These workers and their Anglo counterparts plant and thin trees, perform other forestry services, and fight wildland fires. Poor job quality has been persistent, especially for Latino workers. We compare working conditions between fire suppression and nonsuppression forest work across Latino and non-Latino populations in Oregon. We find that although both groups share some similar conditions, Latino workers often faced poorer conditions, including disrespectful treatment, uncompensated injuries, risk of being blackballed if they complained, and little opportunity for advancement. However, there were some important job quality improvements for Latinos in fire suppression, including compensation for travel and training. Differences in contracting market structure and federal oversight between fire suppression and other forest work may contribute to improved job quality. This suggests the potential for improving conditions by focusing on improving contracting markets and oversight.     

Spatial and temporal patterns of fires in tropical savannas of Indonesia

This paper examines spatial and temporal patterns of large to medium‐sized fires across the Indonesian Archipelago using remote sensing, particularly the MODIS fire products, over a 14 years period (2000–13 inclusive) in conjunction with climatic and land data in a GIS. Results showed fires (burned area and number of fires) were detected the most in year 2002 and least in 2010. The extent of burning was correlated with the annual Southern Oscillation Index with most burning occurring during times of sustained negative SOI values, which generally means drier conditions across the region. Most of the detected fires occurred in the middle of the dry season and in drier eastern Indonesia. Across Indonesia, approximately 1.5 per cent of available open vegetation area burned, whereas only 0.5 per cent of forest area burned. Most open vegetation burning was detected in the savanna with an area equivalent to 11.1 per cent of its extent being burned over the 14 years. On Sumba Island, where the pronounced dry season extends for at least four months, open vegetation is the most common land cover type, of which 99 per cent burned by area over the study period making it the island with the most burned areas in the Indonesian Archipelago.     

Fuel and fire behavior analysis for early-season prescribed fire planning in Sudanian and Sahelian savannas

Early dry-season prescribed fires can reduce fuel loads and thus prevent or mitigate the severity of late, high-intensity fires that spread widely in savanna ecosystems and damage woody plants. However, due to the lack of scientific knowledge regarding fuel characteristics and fire behavior in West African savannas, this practice can have effects that are diametrically opposed to those desired and may threaten the environment. There are three crucial parameters that must be considered when planning early-season prescribed fires: the ignition probability, the rate of spread of a fire and the amount of fuel consumed. In this study, 231 early-season prescribed fires were conducted in three savanna ecosystems in Senegal in order to characterize these three fundamental parameters.Logistic regression analyses revealed that fuel moisture content and relative humidity are good predictors of ignition probability. Multiple linear regressions were used to investigate the relationships between fire rate of spread, fuel consumption or fire intensity and fuel and weather conditions. Readily usable nomographs for forest managers were created based on those relationships that proved to be significant. Kruskal–Wallis tests performed to compare the observed rates of fire propagation with those predicted using BehavePlus showed no statistically significant difference between them.     

Mapping fire regimes in China using MODIS active fire and burned area data

Relatively little is known about vegetation fire regimes in China. In this study, we investigated fire regime characteristics and their potential drivers, utilizing information extracted from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) satellite. Twelve fire regime variables were selected and computed on a regular grid over all of China, using MODIS burned area and active fire data during the period 2001 to 2016, to identify fire incidence and its inter-annual variability, seasonality, intensity, fire size distribution and vegetation types affected by fire. The variables were normalized and clustered to define six fire regimes with distinctive fire attributes. Results show that 78.6% of the land in China was affected by fire during the study period. The barren or sparsely vegetated lands of western China are nearly fire-free. Active fires were observed in Central China, but area burned was not detectable from MODIS. Forest fires in northeastern China are relatively large, infrequent, with a short fire season that peaks in non-winter seasons and higher inter-annual variability, implying a high likelihood of accidental causes. In contrast, forest fires in southern China are relatively small, frequent, with a long fire season that peaks in non-summer seasons, and lower inter-annual variability, suggesting regular use as a land management tool. Low inter-annual variability and low fire intensity were associated with cropland fires, whereas grassland fires generally exhibit the opposite traits. We have also discussed the potential drivers of each fire regime characteristics.     

The environmental envelope of fires in the Colombian Caribbean

Fire is an important disturbance agent for terrestrial ecosystems, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions where its occurrence is controlled by multiple biophysical and anthropogenic variables. We assessed the temporal and spatial patterns of active fire detections (MODIS product MCD14ML) in the Caribbean region of Colombia between 2003 and 2015, using time series, cross-correlation, hot spot and density techniques. We also assessed the environmental envelope of active fires by evaluating the effect of multiple biophysical and anthropogenic variables on fire presence/absence using generalized linear models (GLMs). Results show that fires follow a clear intra-annual cycle, with 86% of fire events taking place during the region's main dry season (December–March). There is also inter-annual variability related to the Tropical North Atlantic (TNA) quasi-decadal climatic oscillation. Active fires exhibit a distinctive spatial pattern, with regional hotspots. The set of variables that best explain fire presence/absence include biophysical (TNA, temperature annual range, dry quarter precipitation), anthropogenic (minimum distance to towns and roads) and composite (NDVI) variables. The extensive and ongoing land cover transformation of this region, from forest to pasture and agriculture, will likely increase the extent of burned areas and future carbon fire emissions to the atmosphere.     

Geomorphology of coal seam fires

Coal fires occur in underground natural coal seams, in exposed surface seams, and in coal storage or waste piles. The fires ignite through spontaneous combustion or natural or anthropogenic causes. They are reported from China, India, USA, South Africa, Australia, and Russia, as well as many other countries. Coal fires lead to loss of a valuable resource (coal), the emission of greenhouse-relevant and toxic gases, and vegetation deterioration. A dangerous aspect of the fires is the threat to local mines, industries, and settlements through the volume loss underground. Surface collapse in coal fire areas is common. Thus, coal fires are significantly affecting the evolution of the landscape. Based on more than a decade of experience with in situ mapping of coal fire areas worldwide, a general classification system for coal fires is presented. Furthermore, coal seam fire geomorphology is explained in detail. The major landforms associated with, and induced by, these fires are presented. The landforms include manifestations resulting from bedrock surface fracturing, such as fissures, cracks, funnels, vents, and sponges. Further manifestations resulting from surface bedrock subsidence include sinkholes, trenches, depressions, partial surface subsidence, large surface subsidence, and slides. Additional geomorphologic coal fire manifestations include exposed ash layers, pyrometamorphic rocks, and fumarolic minerals. The origin, evolution, and possible future development of these features are explained, and examples from in situ surveys, as well as from high-resolution satellite data analyses, are presented. The geomorphology of coal fires has not been presented in a systematic manner. Knowledge of coal fire geomorphology enables the detection of underground coal fires based on distinct surface manifestations. Furthermore, it allows judgments about the safety of coal fire-affected terrain. Additionally, geomorphologic features are indicators of the burning stage of fires. Finally, coal fire geomorphology helps to explain landscape features whose occurrence would otherwise not be understood. Although coal fire-induced thermal anomalies and gas release are also indications of coal fire activity, as addressed by many investigators, no assessment is complete without sound geomorphologic mapping of the fire-induced geomorphologic features.     

中南半岛旱季VIIRS活跃火的空间特征与国别差异

热带是全球活跃火(active fire)的集中发生区,客观认识其空间特征、国别差异及其动态变化对评估区域生物质燃烧及其碳排放等具有重要意义。作为热带季风气候典型区,中南半岛旱季活跃火发生发展空间特征及其动态变化仍缺乏清晰认识。为此,论文利用可见光红外成像辐射仪(VIIRS) S-NPP 2012—2019年活跃火矢量数据,基于核密度与空间自相关评价了中南半岛及国别旱季尤其是其特征月份(2—4月)活跃火发生发展的密集程度、集聚特征及其动态变化。结果表明：① 中南半岛活跃火核密度低值区占比最大(79%),高值区最小(4%);柬埔寨、缅甸、老挝等经济落后国家的核密度均值明显高于泰国和越南;2012—2019年核密度高值区具有朝高海拔、向内陆与趋边境等分布特征,且柬埔寨东北部长居高值区。② 活跃火核密度中值区变化集中在1—4月,且多分布在低、高值区周围;高值区变化集中在2—4月,由柬埔寨东北部逐渐向缅甸东/西部、泰国西北部以及老挝北/南部转移。③ 半岛与5国活跃火核密度在旱季具有显著空间正相关性,空间集聚类型以“高—高”型和“低—低”型集聚为主,越南、柬埔寨等国局部自相关性强于泰国和老挝。     

The role of fire in preventing transitions from a grass dominated state to a bush thickened state in arid savannas

We investigated the role of fire in controlling bush thickening in arid savannas. Three controlled fires were initiated to investigate the responses of planted seedlings, saplings and mature shrubs. The stem diameters of seedlings, saplings and mature shrubs prior to the fire were measured. Other dimensions of the saplings and mature shrubs such as leaf mass were also estimated. The intensity of each fire was estimated. Fire temperatures adjacent to seedlings saplings and mature shrubs were measured using fire paints on steel plates. All three fires were moderately hot. One year after each fire, the mortality of seedlings in the fire treatments was very high (97.1–99.3%) and significantly greater than in adjacent controls (16.1–51.6%). Mortality and topkill of saplings and mature shrubs were negatively related to stem diameter. Fire temperature did not significantly affect mortality and topkill in most cases. Surviving saplings showed a much greater resprout response, relative to pre fire size, than larger shrubs and trees. Our results suggest that fire is crucial in interrupting the transition from open grassy savanna to thicket in arid savannas. Managers who prevent fires at this stage are likely to experience bush thickening in the future.     

老挝VIIRS活跃火的主要自然地理要素特征

利用美国国家航空航天局火灾信息资源管理系统（FIRMS）VIIRS V1活跃火、先进星载热发射和反射辐射仪全球数字高程模型（ASTER GDEM）、MODIS NDVI/LSWI与土地覆被数据产品（FROM-GLC）,基于GIS定量分析老挝2012—2017年从分省到国家不同空间尺度活跃火频次的动态变化,并重点分析2015厄尔尼诺年活跃火频次及其与海拔、坡度、植被-水分（NDVI ^*、LSWI）指数、土地覆被等主要自然地理要素的相关特征。结果表明：① 老挝活跃火频次呈先增后减的趋势,峰值在2015厄尔尼诺年,主要集中在上、中寮,其中琅勃拉邦、沙耶武里与沙湾拿吉三省居前三位,而万象市、塞公和赛宋本则居后三位。② 老挝2012—2017年活跃火发生频次与地形因素（海拔、坡度）的关系基本相同,活跃火集中在海拔1000 m以下、坡度小于30°的低山-丘陵区。其中,上寮活跃火集中分布在500~1000 m、10~30°的斜陡坡山地,中、下寮集中在500 m以下、2~20°的缓斜坡丘陵。③ 活跃火高度集中在旱季,以3月、4月最多,并集中分布在NDVI为0.4~0.8和LSWI为0.2~0.6的中高覆盖度植被区。④ 老挝活跃火主要发生在森林这一土地覆被类型中,且以上寮最为集中,而中寮多以农田、草地和灌丛活跃火为主。综上,基于自然地理要素的活跃火特征分析可以有效识别其发生类型,即老挝活跃火主要由刀耕火种农业所引起。     

全新世巢湖沉积物炭屑记录的火环境变化

通过对巢湖湖泊沉积岩芯不同粒级炭屑浓度和磁化率等指标变化的研究,揭示了全新世以来的区域火环境变化及人类活动影响。结果表明：① 全新世早期,气候由寒冷干旱向温暖湿润过渡,但仍较为干旱,炭屑浓度也相对略高,火活动比较频繁,地方性和区域性火时有发生;② 全新世中期是最温暖湿润的适宜期,炭屑浓度出现全新世以来的低值,火活动微弱,但在文化兴盛时期炭屑浓度出现峰值,则归因于人类活动的影响;③ 全新世晚期,在气候趋于凉干的环境背景下,人类活动的增强更加剧了火活动的频率和强度,炭屑浓度大幅增加;④ 近200 a炭屑浓度的降低可能与湖区附近已没有足够生物量引起火灾有关。     

The ecogeochemical role of forest fires in the Baikal region

A study is made of the behavior of artificial radionuclides and heavy metals during a forest fire. It is shown that forest fires are accompanied by airborne migration of some heavy metals and artificial radionucleides as well as by pollution of new areas. The main depositories of elements falling out of the atmosphere are provided by forest litter, mosses, lichens, and tree needles. Up to 40% of 137Cs and 90Sr can migrate from the sites of fires, which originally were contained in the soil-vegetation cover. The elements that are carried away from the sites of fires partly deposit themselves on adjacent areas.     

Changes in sub-fossil chironomid assemblages in two Northern Patagonian lake systems associated with the occurrence of historical fires

Patagonia is commonly seen as an exceptionally pristine area because of its wildlife and practically unpolluted waters. However, during the twentieth century the burning of natural forests was one of the most important human activities in Northern Chilean Patagonia. Some estimations indicate that three million hectares were burned during the first three decades of the century. Hence the objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of the historical fires in Lake Burgos (45º42′S) and Lake Thompson (45º38′S) in Chilean Patagonia. The impact was measured by evaluating chironomid assemblage since they are sensitive enough to be used as an indicator of aquatic ecosystem health. Fires have a direct and drastic effect on a lake watershed but also indirectly affect a lake ecosystem, changing sedimentation patterns or increasing nutrient inputs. In the studied lakes the periods with higher prevalence of fires were identified by charcoal analysis, while organic matter and magnetic susceptibility allowed the confirmation of pre-fire and post-fire periods. The chironomid composition was evaluated through a PCA and an analysis of similarity (ANOSIM) to test the significance among periods while a Detrended Correspondence Analysis was applied to the chironomid assemblage downcore to assess compositional structure and taxa turnover. In Lake Burgos the ANOSIM test indicated significant differences between the pre-fire and fire periods (p < 0.05), while in Lake Thompson differences were not significant. However, in Lake Thompson the PCA clearly separated the pre-fire from the fire period but not the fire from the post-fire periods. In both lakes chironomid composition changed in relation to the period of higher prevalence of fires, which in turn implies catchment changes, pollution, and other anthropogenic impacts. Particularly a marked change in mesotrophic/eutrophic taxa was detected, reflecting an increase in nutrient input due to deforestation. Our findings point out that the lacustrine ecosystems are still affected by the impact of fires and the subsequent increase in nutrient supply that occurred almost 50 years ago. No sign of reverting to pre-disturbance conditions was observed, which makes these lakes highly sensitive to current human-induced impacts.     

中国东南海域活跃火强度时空动态与发生类型

自然和人为因素引发的植被火是全球生态系统的重要干扰因子,而基于卫星获取的活跃火（active fires）是探究人-火关系与活跃火发生机理、扩展机制的基础。相对于陆域活跃火,海上活跃火发生的时空动态及其强度、类型等研究较为薄弱。基于VIIRS活跃火和海洋地形等数据,通过分析中国东南海域活跃火发生的时间规律、强度特征、地形属性和距海岸线距离等特性,初步确定了海上活跃火类型界定体系。结果表明：(1)本区相同位置活跃火发生具有时序性。2015年前后两年内相同位置活跃火逐渐减少,且低纬地区更突出;而2015年前后三年内低纬地区活跃火发生强度稳定、高纬地区逐渐减少。(2)中国东南海域活跃火呈现明显的空间集-疏特征,即沿岸海域“条带状”聚集区、以曾母暗沙为中心的“团状”聚集区、南海诸岛周围的分散区。(3) 2012—2013年、2015年、2020年活跃火总强度与其月均强度变化一致,即其发生强度增强归因于活跃火的面状、分散发生;2014年、2016—2019年活跃火总强度与月均强度峰值不同步,即其强度增强归因于活跃火的点状、集中发生。(4)基于时空、强度和集聚特征,结合人类活动频繁区布局,将发生时...     

Transformation of soil-protective functions of mountain forests under the influence of forest fires in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory

An analysis is made of the data from experimental investigations into the influence of fires on changes in the soil-protective functions of Siberian stone pine and pine forests in the southern part of the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory. The study revealed a negative influence of ground fires of the litter-humus type on changes in reserves and qualitative functional composition of forest litter and its moisture retention capacity as well as in water-physical properties of soils. Quantitative indices are provided for the liquid and solid overland runoff forming in burnt-over areas, depending on slope steepness, and on the intensity and temporal remoteness of past fires.