Prescribed Burning as a Means of Reducing Emissions From Fires?

Terrestrial ecosystems, particularly forest ecosystems, have been identified for their carbon sequestration potential. However, many of the world's terrestrial systems experience periodic fire events, which emit a significant amount of carbon to the atmosphere, in the form of carbon dioxide, particles, and other trace gases. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of fire emissions throughout North America and demonstrated how these emissions impact regional climate and air quality. For example, emissions of volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from fires can have a detrimental impact on air quality in seasons not typically prone to photochemical smog. Fire emissions are also a critical component of the carbon cycle and need to be considered when evaluating regional sources and sinks of carbon dioxide. Although the increasing extent and severity of wildfires can potentially result in different, and larger, emissions than those from prescribed burns, there has not been a continental-scale examination of the benefit of prescribed fire as compared to wildfire emissions of carbon dioxide, particles, and trace gases to the atmosphere. Here we use a continental-scale fire emissions model to investigate the potential changes in fire emissions when prescribed burns are applied more widely, and wildfires are assumed to be prevented. We will evaluate the impact of fire management practices on the overall emissions of carbon dioxide, particles, and other trace gases and how these emissions compare to those from anthropogenic sources. Quantifying the emissions of wildfire versus prescribed fire will aid in identifying the potential climate and air quality implications, allowing for further refinement of carbon accounting policy aimed at reducing atmospheric carbon concentrations.