Transformation of the ground cover after surface fires and estimation of pyrogenic carbon emissions in the dark-coniferous forests of Central Siberia

Abstract

Ground fuel loads and structure in dark-coniferous forests with the dominance of Siberian pine have been studied in the Central Siberian State Nature Biosphere Reserve located in the central-taiga zone of Central Siberia. The impacts of surface fires of various forms and severity on the living ground cover are examined. It is found that fires of low to moderate severity reduce ground fuel loads from 35–49 t/ha to 26–28 t/ha, while fires of moderate to high severity reduce them to 17–18 t/ha. Consumption of down woody debris varies from 3 to 29 t/ha, depending on the prefire fuel characteristics and fire form and severity. Steady fires spreading with the fire danger index PV-1 of 3919 ± 482 result in carbon emissions of 14.0 tC/ha from fires of low to moderate severity and 24.6 tC/ha from fires of moderate to high severity. The lowest carbon emissions (10.1 tC/ha) are noted for fast-moving fires spreading with PV-1 of 1167 ± 386.