Forest Burning Research Articles

Reassessment of carbon emissions from fires and a new estimate of net carbon uptake in Russian forests in 2001–2021

Russia has the largest forest area on earth. Its boreal forests officially store about 97 Pg C, which significantly affect the global carbon cycle. In recent years, forest fires have been intensifying on the planet, leading to increased carbon emissions. Here we review how differences in fire control management of Russian forests affect fire related emissions. Carbon emissions due to fire were estimated using satellite data and compared to official reports for 2001–2021. We found that the relative areas affected by fire did differ between different fire protection zones, and 89 % of the area burnt was in forests controlled by fire-fighting aircraft or areas without protection. As a result, 417.7 Mha of poor or unprotected Russian forests (42 % of total) account about a half of total carbon emissions. According to our estimates, the average area of burnt forests in Russia was about 8.3 Mha per year between 2016 and 2021, resulting in annual carbon emission of 193 million metric tons (Mt) C emissions, and 53 % of them were from unprotected forest. These estimated carbon emissions are significantly higher than official national reports (79 Mt C yr−1). We estimated that net carbon uptake for Russia for 2015–2021 was about 333 ± 37 Mt C, which is roughly double the official estimates.Our results highlight large spatial differences in fire protection and prevention strategies in fire related emissions. The so-called control zone which stretches across large parts of Eastern Russia has no fire control and is the region of major recent fires. Our study shows that to estimate the Russian forest carbon balance it is critical to include this area. Implementation of some forest management in the remote areas (i.e., control zone) would help to decrease forest loss and resulting carbon emissions.

The impact of the 2019–2020 wildfires on beetles (Coleoptera) in the forests of north-eastern New South Wales

ABSTRACT A survey of the beetles (Coleoptera) in post-2019–20 burnt and unburnt forests in northeast New South Wales is described. The survey focussed on groups that were well-represented from previous surveys, easily trapped and taxonomically well known at species level. The principal target group comprised 12 species of Scarabaeinae (dung beetles) which had been listed as potentially significantly impacted by the 2019–20 fires. The results indicate that most species are fire tolerant and no species could be considered threatened by the fires.

Landscape fires in the Irkutsk region: environmental impact

The paper considers the problem of pollution of the air basin by landscape fires in the municipalities of the Baikal region. The factorological basis of the study was the taxational characteristics of natural plantings and statistical data on the consequences of landscape fires for 2014-2020. The taxation values of natural territories and consequences of landscape fires were used to formulate a methodological approach to the type and mass of burnt plant materials. The consequences of landscape fires were determined, and calculations were performed; qualitative and quantitative values of burned materials were obtained for the municipalities under study. Taking into account the specific indicators of emissions of pollutants during the burning of stands, forest combustible materials, mass values of burned forest materials, and gross emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere were determined.

Reduced predation by arthropods and higher herbivory in burned Amazonian forests

AbstractBiodiversity losses have increased in tropical forests due to fire‐related disturbances. As landscape fragmentation and climate change increase, fires will become more frequent and widespread across tropical rain forests worldwide, with important implications for forest dynamics by altering plant–animal interactions. Here we tested the hypothesis that recurrent fires in tropical rain forests change bottom‐up and top‐down forces controlling the abundance of insect herbivores, which in turn increases herbivory. To quantify herbivory, we collected 50 leaves per tree of five species in burned and unburned experimental plots (N = 75) in southeastern Amazonian forests. We measured leaf nitrogen content and leaf thickness of tree leaves as bottom‐up factors that could explain differences in herbivory; we measured predation pressure on model caterpillars and estimated the abundance of predatory ants as top‐down factors. We found higher herbivory in burned than in unburned forests, as well as lower predator attacks in caterpillar models and lower abundance of predatory ants. Leaf nitrogen content did not vary across treatments. Birds attacked model caterpillars more frequently in burned than in unburned forests, and leaf thickness was higher in burned forests, but these factors together were not enough to offset the higher herbivory in burned plots. Fire degrades tropical forests not only by killing trees and altering their structure and community dynamics, but also by reducing predatory arthropods and disrupting predator–prey interactions, which triggers increased herbivory. These indirect impacts of recurrent fires probably contribute to further alter forest structure, functioning, and to decrease regeneration in Amazonian forests.Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.

CALCULATION OF THE AREA OF THE TRANSFORMED OBJECT AT POLYPOINT TRANSFORMATIONS

Modern methods and technologies of geometric modeling allow to reproduce complex processes of interaction in nature, design and monitor complex systems, obtaining possible scenarios for different situations and learning to respond to them.
 This paper considers the possibility of calculating the area of the plot, which is obtained after the polypoint transformations. In the course of polypoint transformations, the result is a set of points that are the object of transformations, such as the edge of a burning forest, or the contour of an oil slick, and so on. Usually, it is important not only to get a visual representation of this object, but also to calculate its area. The display of the object allows you to react quickly to the situation, namely, if it is the edge of a burning forest, you can see exactly where you need to send equipment, use human resources, evacuate residents of potentially dangerous areas. If it is possible to obtain the area of the burning forest edge, you can also calculate the damage from a natural disaster, choose reliable ways to prevent losses - both material and human losses among the population.
 This paper proposes an algorithm for calculating the area based on the obtained points using geolocation, which is relevant in the deformation modeling of real emergencies. It can be used in modeling forest fires, various air and water pollutions, and more. The algorithm calculates the area of geodata using triangulation; it allows to see user-interactions with the system and analyzes the possibility of obtaining reliable data. This paper provides examples of software output. The system can be used to solve problems that arise when modeling with polypoint transformations, as well as when it is necessary to determine the area of an object on a map.

Fine fuel changes due to timber harvesting and frequent prescribed burning in eucalypt forests of southeastern Australia

Forests are managed for a range of ecological and economic values. Prescribed burning and timber harvesting are two widely used and often co-occurring forest management activities. Both may alter wildfire risk by changing fuel characteristics. Prescribed burning alters the amount and arrangement of fuel, which changes the probability of ignition and rate of fire spread. Timber harvesting may influence future fuel composition, amount and structure directly via the addition of harvesting residue and indirectly by changing stand structure and fine fuel accumulation. Whilst there is reasonable understanding of how fuel changes immediately after a single prescribed burn or harvest in temperate eucalypt forests, the long-term effects of frequent prescribed burning combined with timber harvesting are poorly understood. We used a long-term (∼25 year) prescribed burning experiment conducted in ∼1000 ha of temperate eucalypt forest in southeastern New South Wales, Australia to determine the effects of a single selective timber harvest and 0–6 subsequent prescribed burns on the accumulation and composition of fine fuel (<25 mm thickness). It was found that fine fuel loads differed between harvested and unharvested stands, with 30 % less leaves and fine twigs (<6 mm) in the litter bed but 24 % more green understorey fuel up to 10 years post-burn in harvested stands. Frequent prescribed burning did not change total fine fuel load in harvested stands but did change fine fuel composition, with 4 times more leaves in the litter bed and 6 times less green understorey fuel in plots burnt at high frequencies (>4 fires in 25 years) versus low frequencies (0 fires in 25 years). Similar trends were observed in unharvested stands following frequent burning, however, there was 45% more leaves in the litter bed of frequently burnt, unharvested stands compared to frequently burnt, harvested stands. Our results suggest that irrespective of harvesting, frequent burning (>4 fires over 25 years) in temperate eucalypt forest may be a suitable strategy for lowering wildfire risk as it can reduce the amount of green understorey fuel, which may reduce flame heights and the likelihood of canopy fire. However, the decrease in green understorey fuel may be offset by the increase in leaves in the litter bed, which support fire ignition and spread. Our results highlight how the presence of timber harvesting changes the accumulation and composition of fine fuel post-fire, yet timber harvesting is currently not well integrated into many landscape fuel models, which often focus solely on time since last fire. Overlooking key attributes of disturbance history (timber harvesting, number of past fires), may jeopardise the accuracy of fuel models, and therefore the reliability of fire behaviour predictions.

Australia's 2019–20 mega‐fires are associated with lower occupancy of a rainforest‐dependent bat

AbstractMega‐fires in the Australian summer of 2019–20 resulted in the largest ever documented forest fire extent. These fires impacted many species, but individual responses remain poorly known, making assessments of their conservation status and ongoing threats uncertain. We assessed the influence of the 2019–20 mega‐fires on habitat occupancy in the golden‐tipped bat Phoniscus papuensis, a specialist which roosts in suspended birds' nests and occurs in relictual Gondwanan rainforest not typically exposed to fire. We used trapping and accounted for nightly detection probability (lower detection with increasing rainfall) to estimate site occupancy. Occupancy increased with the local (1 km buffer surrounding each site) extent of rainforest, gullies and unburnt forest. The model predicted a strong negative effect of fire in the surrounding buffer, with occupancy reduced from &gt;90% at sites with suitable habitat (extensive rainforest and gully systems) surrounded by unburnt forest to 20% when the entire surrounding area was burnt (regardless of severity). Gully rainforest sites surrounded by a mixture of burnt and unburnt forest were modelled to have intermediate occupancy values. On average, fire severity mapping revealed that 22% of rainforest in the 1 km buffer surrounding our burnt sites was unburnt, 61% had a low severity burn, while 17% experienced a high severity burn. The lower occupancy of P. papuensis in burnt rainforest was associated with a reduction in the abundance of suspended bird nests, a critical resource used for day‐roosting. Our results quantify the effects of extreme fire events on animal populations in rainforest that is normally unaffected by fire. The large extent of rainforest burnt during the 2019–20 Australian season of ‘mega‐fires’ and its strong negative effect on occupancy highlights the vulnerability of animal species reliant on fire‐sensitive habitat to a climate‐change driven increase in such extreme fire events.

Prescribed burning in Pinus cubensis-dominated tropical natural forests: a myco-friendly fire-prevention tool

Aim of study: To evaluate the effects of two different prescribed burning strategies on ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal species in Pinus cubensis-dominated natural forest.&#x0D; Area of study: Yateras Silvicultural Base Business Unit, Guantánamo, Cuba.&#x0D; Material and methods: In June 2015, six plots (20 × 50 m) were subjected to forward or back burning. Nine interval samplings (performed 1 week before and up to 120 days after prescribed burning) were undertaken to determine the total number of sporocarps and to evaluate the effect of fire on the soil.&#x0D; Main results: Eight ECM species were collected from the study plots. Suillus sp. and Amanita muscaria started fruiting 15 and 60 days after the fire, respectively. Boletus sp., Suillus brevipes, Suillus decipiens, Suillus sp., Amanita muscaria, Lactarius semisanguifluus, Scleroderma stellatum and Pisolithus arhizus were found before and after prescribed burning. Sporocarp numbers showed an increasing trend after fire and significantly recovered 75 days after forward or back burning and were significantly higher 120 days after forward burning compared to unburned plots. The ECM fungal community in the heading fire and the backfire plots did not differ significantly. However, non-metric multidimensional scaling confirmed that ECM composition differed over time. According to a Mantel test, the sampling time after prescribed burning accounted for 64% of the variation in ECM composition, followed by edaphic factors (26%) such as organic matter and Na.&#x0D; Research highlights: This preliminary study suggests that low-intensity prescribed burning does not have a negative effect on ECM fungal dynamics in humid tropical forests.

Carbon 5–60 Years After Fire: Planting Trees Does Not Compensate for Losses in Dead Wood Stores

Wildfire is a natural disturbance in many forested biomes, with the loss of carbon to the atmosphere and mortality of trees actively sequestering carbon of global concern as a contribution to climate change. Natural regeneration is often successful at reestablishing a forest in ecosystems adapted to fire, but there is increasing concern that the changing size, frequency and severity of wildfire is causing regeneration failures or inadequate densities of trees that sequester and store carbon following these disturbances. It remains unclear whether the action of planting trees accelerates carbon storage following fire compared to forests established through natural regeneration. The central interior of British Columbia recently experienced multiple years of record-breaking fire activity. Rehabilitation planting focused on reestablishing trees in the managed forest but was also prescribed in previously unmanaged forests to initiate carbon sequestration. Planting is often accompanied by other stand treatments such as salvage harvesting or snag removal and debris clearing to ensure planter safety. Here, we determine carbon recovery and stores in 21 wildfires across a chronosequence from the early 1960s to 2015. We measured above and belowground carbon pools to determine the effect of time since fire and planting treatments on carbon. Tree planting did not increase total ecosystem carbon over time, but rather decreased carbon through the loss of dead wood from site preparation. All carbon pools were affected by time since fire except the mineral soil pool, which was best predicted by soil clay content and coarse fragments positive effects. Live tree carbon increased over time, with more stored in planted stands over 60 years compared to stands that were not planted. Projecting growth to 100 years since fire suggests we may see increasing divergence in carbon stores in planted stands over a full fire-return interval, but these differences remain relatively small [mean (sd): 140.8 (19.6) Mg⋅ha–1 in planted compared to 136.9 (27.5) Mg⋅ha–1 in not-planted stands], with 1.4 Mg⋅ha–1 year–1 sequestered in not-planted compared to 1.5 Mg⋅ha–1 year–1 in planted stands. To meet carbon objectives, replanting trees on average sites in burned forests of BC’s central interior would require preserving the carbon legacy of fire, including dead wood.

The air quality of Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia: The impacts of forest fires on visibility

ABSTRACT Airborne particles in urban Palangka Raya, Kalimantan from Oct 2011 until Oct 2020 have been collected and analyzed for PM2.5, PM10, and Black Carbon (BC) concentrations. Palangka Raya is a city that serves the capital of the Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo. Kalimantan is affected by peat fires that occur periodically. There were identified increases in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations during El Niño periods. During the forest fire episode in September – October 2015, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations increased significantly, to nearly 400 µg/m3 and 800 µg/m3, respectively, and visibility in the city was reduced to < 0.2 miles. The highest BC concentrations were observed during this massive forest fires episode. The regression analyses for PM2.5, PM10 and visibility in Palangka Raya during the period of 2011–2020, showed a non-linear correlation with reduction in visibility due to increased PM2.5 and PM10. There was no correlation for BC with visibility. Air quality in Palangka Raya was at a relatively good level with concentrations below the national ambient air quality standard when there were no forest fires event. Emissions from forest fires caused a substantial reduction in air quality reaching concentrations well above ambient air quality standards and are likely to have caused adverse health effects on the people living in the area. Implications: Indonesia has repeatedly experienced forest fires, especially on Kalimantan and Sumatera Islands, which burned large areas of peatland. The forest fires leading to increasing PM concentrations especially in the PM2.5 size range which influence visibility. The seasonal variations of BC in Palangka Raya and the relationships of fine particulates with visibility were assessed. The results of regression analyses for PM2.5 and PM10 to visibility during the period of 2011-2020 showed non-linear relationships. An increasing of PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations during El Nino periods were detected well above the ambient air quality standard. To ensure effective and continued handling and prevention of forest and peatland fires, the government set up a special task force and review on several rules, including laws and government regulations as well as governor regulations that permit the burning of forest and peatland areas. These results are expected to be used to formulate more effective mitigations in reducing forest fires events in Indonesia.

Soil Erosion Rate and Surface Run Off on Various Forms of Culture

Cultivation is one of the agricultural systems that is mostly carried out by forest village communities living in and around the watershed area by slashing, cutting and burning forest trees. This study aimed to determine the rate of erosion and runoff from the cultivation type in Olonjonge sub-watershed, Dolago watershed, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia.The method used was a multislot divisor on a plot measuring 2 m x 15 m with 3 repetitions on 3 types of cultivation (peanut, corn and cocoa monoculture (3 years old) on land with a steep slope (25-40%). The largest surface runoff came from peanut land at 79,689.77 liters ha-1 followed by corn at 65,704.55 liters ha-1 and the smallest from cocoa monoculture (3 years old) at 56,385.23 liters ha-1, while the highest erosion occurred at peanut land area of ​​195.52 kg ha-1 followed by corn field of 165.26 kg ha-1, and cocoa monoculture (3 years old) of kg ha-1. Cocoa planting was more effective in protecting the soil from rain with the potential to protect the soil from erosion and surface runoff.

Особенности самовозобновления сосны на гари

The results of a comprehensive study of the burnt area formed in 2006 on the site of a rocky pine forest in the southern part of the Republic of Karelia, east of Lake Onega, are presented. It has been established that the self-renewal of pine in the burnt area proceeds successfully. Here, young animals of mixed composition were formed. The number of pine undergrowth is 2400 ind./ha. Its number is almost 2 times higher than the number established by the 2020 Reforestation Rules. The young generation of pine is characterized by significant differentiation both in height — from 0,3 to 5 m, and in age — from 3 to 15 years. Analysis of the course of growth of model specimens showed that the increase in height depends to a greater extent on the height of the pine undergrowth than on age. The maximum values of the current growth are 25…30 cm/year. The composition of the undergrowth is dominated by mountain ash and goat willow. The total number of undergrowth species exceeds 1460 ind./ha. Living ground cover is represented by 21 species, of which 12 species are representatives of angiosperms and 9 species of mosses and lichens. Xerophytes dominate — heather, cladonia, juniper polytrichum. The soils are poor and are characterized by the predominance of oligopeat species — lingonberries, small sorrel, lichens. Successful natural reforestation is noted on the site of a burnt rocky pine forest.

Anthropogenic impact on the landscape of the Vishtynets Upland (Kaliningrad region, SE Baltic) in prehistory and Middle Ages: A multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental study

The paper deals with an overview of early anthropogenic impact on the landscapes of the southeastern Baltic region and is based on the results of palaeolimnological and archaeological studies carried out on the Vishtynets Upland, Kaliningrad oblast, Russian Federation. The detailed study of available palynological (including microcharcoal), geochemical and archaeological data has revealed possible signs of anthropogenic impact on the landscape from the Early Mesolithic to the Middle Ages, while the results of lithological, geochronological and diatom analyses provided a basis for a better understanding of natural processes. Palynological data have shown that the first signs of human impact on landscapes date back to the Early Mesolithic (approximately from 10,000 cal yr. BP), indicating the existence of local deforested areas. The presence of pollen from plantindicators of open habitats and pastures, as well as Pteridium and Corylus, combined with elevated Ba and Sr values as indicators of burning, suggests the deliberate burning of forests for the enhancement of hunting and mobility, as well as for the propagation of edible plants. The correlation of microcharcoal and pollen data has revealed several peaks of human activity in the Neolithic and showed that cultivation of Cerealia on the Vishtynets Upland began during this period (5120 - 4000 cal yr. BP). The first signs of metallurgy in the region emerged in the period 4500–3000 cal yr. BP (the late Neolithic – the Bronze Age) and are indicated by the simultaneous growth of V, Pb, Ni, Zn, As, Fe2O3 and microcharcoal curves.

The carbon cost of the 2019–20 Australian fires varies with fire severity and forest type

AbstractAimTo estimate loss of above‐ground carbon (AGC) and conversion of live carbon to dead carbon following understorey and canopy fire.LocationSouth‐eastern Australia.Time period2019–2020.Major taxa studiedFour widespread resprouting eucalypt forests.MethodsAbove‐ground carbon was measured in 15 plots in each of four forest types one‐year post‐fire. We also assessed topkill, that is, trees subject to canopy loss that failed to resprout epicormically.ResultsWhile canopy fire was associated with greater declines in AGC than understorey fire, this was only statistically significant for only one forest type, where AGC declined from 154 to 85 Mg C ha−1 following canopy fire. Significant post‐fire increases in dead AGC were observed in one forest type, where dead carbon increased from 22 to 60% after canopy fire. Topkill of trees following canopy fire (48–78% of stems) was higher than topkill after understorey fire (36–53% of stems) and in unburnt forest (12–55%). Topkill occurred primarily in small‐diameter stems. Consequently, there was no effect of fire on the proportion of dead AGC in trees, with the exception of the forest with lowest productivity (i.e., lowest biomass) and lowest annual rainfall, where dead tree carbon increased from 8% in unburnt forest to 13 and 53% after understorey and canopy fire, respectively. AGC in understorey vegetation and coarse woody debris was similar or lower in burnt compared with unburnt forest. Litter carbon was significantly lower and pyrogenic carbon significantly higher in burnt forest, with no difference between understorey and canopy fire.Main conclusionsWhile increased fire severity was associated with increased changes to carbon stocks, there were differences among forest types. Specifically, the driest forest type had the highest rates of topkill following canopy fire. These results highlight the importance of spatial variability in fire severity and forest type in determining the effects of fire on carbon stocks.

Direct and indirect effects of fire on microbial communities in a pyrodiverse dry‐sclerophyll forest

Abstract Fire is one of the predominant drivers of the structural and functional dynamics of forest ecosystems. In recent years, novel fire regimes have posed a major challenge to the management of pyrodiverse forests. While previous research efforts have focused on quantifying the impacts of fire on above‐ground forest biodiversity, how microbial communities respond to fire is less understood, despite their functional significance. Here, we describe the effects of time since fire, fire frequency and their interaction on soil and leaf litter fungal and bacterial communities from the pyrodiverse, Eucalyptus pilularis forests of south‐eastern Australia. Using structural equation models, we also elucidate how fire can influence these communities both directly and indirectly through biotic–abiotic interactions. Our results demonstrate that fire is a key driver of litter and soil bacterial and fungal communities, with effects most pronounced for soil fungal communities. Notably, recently burnt forest hosted lower abundances of symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungi and Acidobacteria in the soil, and basidiomycetous fungi and Actinobacteriota in the litter. Compared with low fire frequencies, high fire frequency increased soil fungal plant pathogens, but reduced Actinobacteriota. The majority of fire effects on microbial communities were mediated by fire‐induced changes in litter and soil abiotic properties. For instance, recent and more frequent fire was associated with reduced soil sulphur, which led to an increase in soil fungal plant pathogens and saprotrophic fungi in these sites. Pathogenic fungi also increased in recently burnt forests that had a low fire frequency, mediated by a decline in litter carbon and an increase in soil pH in these sites. Synthesis. Our findings indicate that predicted increases in the frequency of fire may select for specific microbial communities directly and indirectly through ecological interactions, which may have functional implications for plants (increase in pathogens, decrease in symbionts), decomposition rates (declines in Actinobacteriota and Acidobacteriota) and carbon storage (decrease in ectomycorrhizal fungi). In the face of predicted shifts in wildfire regimes, which may exacerbate fire‐induced changes in microbial communities, adaptive fire management and monitoring is required to address the potential functional implications of fire‐altered microbial communities.

Greenhouse Effect Education Against Climate Change Through an Accelerometer-Based Android Game

Climate change has become a global issue, the greenhouse effect is the main cause of climate change. The greenhouse effect has an important role in keeping the earth's temperature warm. But greenhouse gases are increasing which is why global average temperatures continue to rise. These greenhouse gas emissions are caused by humans, such as the use of fossil fuels as an energy source, excess methane from livestock and burning forests as CO2 absorbers. For this reason, how humans reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as switching from fossil materials to alternative energy, using public transportation rather than private vehicles, reducing meat consumption and so on. Education through games will learn all of this in different ways, using the accelerometer as the main control is a challenge for playersThis paper has purpose how to arrange the greenhouse effect material in the form of an Android-based game. Game testing data through submitting several statements to respondents. Questionnaires were distributed to respondents who had directly played this game. After testing the game, it is found that the convenience variable and the pleasure variable have a correlation with the desire to return to use.

Spatial and temporal variation of air pollutant emissions from forest fires in China

Warm and dry climate conditions favor the occurrence of forest fires. Forest burning leads to the discharge of large amounts of particles and trace gases that play an important role in air quality degradation and have impact on human health. To date, most studies on China's forest fire emissions have concentrated in certain regions, also with a relatively coarse temporal resolution. In this study, we used the INteractive Fire and Emission algoRithm for Natural envirOnments (INFERNO), as well as high-resolution land cover data to compile a forest fire emission inventory for China in 2020. The variations of forest combustion emissions were then analyzed at the provincial and seasonal level. The results show that forest fires were concentrated in southern China and northeastern China, which are in agreement with MODIS observations. Total CO2, CO, CH4, NOx, SO2, PM2.5, OC, and BC emissions were estimated to be 3.06 × 104, 1.87 × 103, 96.92, 34.95, 13.84, 208, 116.03, and 9.95 Gg, respectively. Provinces with higher emissions were found in Yunnan, Guangdong, Hunan, and Sichuan. Peak emission from forest fire occurred in spring and winter, mainly from January to April, during which contributed 70% of the total forest fire contaminants emissions. The algorithm used in this study can be easily coupled in the meteorological model and air quality model to estimate the occurrence of fire and calculate pollutant emission online. This study updated emissions information that may support future research and policy development on greenhouse gas reduction and air pollution control.

Prediction of Extreme Temperature in South Sumatra and Its Applications at The End of The 21st Century

This study examines trends and variations in extreme temperature indices in Palembang for the period 1980-2020. They are using data from the Indonesian Agency for Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysics, namely the Palembang Climatology Station and the Sultan Mahmud Baharudin II Meteorological Station from the 1981-2020 period, which were analyzed according to the rules of the Expert Team for Climate Change Detection and Indices (ETCCDI). The results obtained based on the analysis showed that the average maximum temperature index (TMAXmean) and the minimum temperature average index (TMINmean) increased significantly with Z values ​​= 5.21 and 7.10. Based on the correlation analysis between time and extreme temperature index, it is possible to predict the occurrence of TMAXmean and TMINmean for the end of the 21st century, namely in 2100 with a value of TMAXmean = 36.1℃ and TMINmean 25.7℃. The TMAXmean event also has a very close correlation with the total area of ​​Forest and Land Fires, as well as the contribution of Greenhouse Gases ( ) in this region. So, it can be concluded that reducing the rate of increase in TMAXmean and TMINmean can be done by not burning forests and land so that the contribution of GHG ( ) to the atmosphere is reduced

Animal soundscapes reveal key markers of Amazon forest degradation from fire and logging.

Safeguarding tropical forest biodiversity requires solutions for monitoring ecosystem structure over time. In the Amazon, logging and fire reduce forest carbon stocks and alter habitat, but the long-term consequences for wildlife remain unclear, especially for lesser-known taxa. Here, we combined multiday acoustic surveys, airborne lidar, and satellite time series covering logged and burned forests (n = 39) in the southern Brazilian Amazon to identify acoustic markers of forest degradation. Our findings contradict expectations from the Acoustic Niche Hypothesis that animal communities in more degraded habitats occupy fewer “acoustic niches” defined by time and frequency. Instead, we found that aboveground biomass was not a consistent proxy for acoustic biodiversity due to the divergent patterns of “acoustic space occupancy” between logged and burned forests. Ecosystem soundscapes highlighted a stark, and sustained reorganization in acoustic community assembly after multiple fires; animal communication networks were quieter, more homogenous, and less acoustically integrated in forests burned multiple times than in logged or once-burned forests. These findings demonstrate strong biodiversity cobenefits from protecting burned Amazon forests from recurrent fire. By contrast, soundscape changes after logging were subtle and more consistent with acoustic community recovery than reassembly. In both logged and burned forests, insects were the dominant acoustic markers of degradation, particularly during midday and nighttime hours, which are not typically sampled by traditional biodiversity field surveys. The acoustic fingerprints of degradation history were conserved across replicate recording locations, indicating that soundscapes may offer a robust, taxonomically inclusive solution for digitally tracking changes in acoustic community composition over time.

Severe Biomass-Burning Aerosol Pollution during the 2019 Amazon Wildfire and Its Direct Radiative-Forcing Impact: A Space Perspective from MODIS Retrievals

An extreme biomass burning event occurred in the Amazonian rainforest from July through September 2019 due to the extensive wildfires used to clear the land, which allowed for more significant forest burning than previously occurred. In this study, we reclustered the clear-sky ambient aerosols to adapt the black carbon (BC) aerosol retrieval algorithm to Amazonia. This not only isolated the volumetric fraction of BC (fbc) from moderate-resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) aerosol data, but also facilitated the use of aerosol mixing and scattering models to estimate the absorption properties of smoke plumes. The retrieved MODIS aerosol dataset provided a space perspective on characterizing the aerosol changes and trends of the 2019 pollution event. A very high aerosol optical depth (AOD) was found to affect the source areas continuously, with higher and thus stronger aerosol absorption. These pollutants also affected the atmosphere downwind due to the transport of air masses. In addition, properties of aerosols emitted from the 2019 Amazonian wildfire events visualized a significant year-to-year enhancement, with the averaged AOD at 550 nm increased by 150%. A 200% increase in the aerosol-absorption optical depth (AAOD) at 550 nm was recognized due to the low single-scattering albedo (SSA) caused by the explosive BC emissions during the pollution peak. Further simulations of aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) showed that the biomass-burning aerosols emitted during the extreme Amazonian wildfires event in 2019 forced a significant change in the radiative balance, which not only produced greater heating of the atmospheric column through strong absorption of BC, but also reduced the radiation reaching the top-of-atmosphere (TOA) and surface level. The negative radiative forcing at the TOA and surface level, as well as the positive radiative forcing in the atmosphere, were elevated by ~30% across the whole of South America compared to 2018. These radiative effects of the absorbing aerosol could have the ability to accelerate the deterioration cycle of drought and fire over the Amazonian rainforest.