Document


Title

Climate, Fire, Frost and the Carbon Bank
Document Type: Fact Sheet / Brief / Bulletin
Author(s): Randi R. Jandt; Jennifer W. Harden; Kristen L. Manies
Publication Year: 2013

Cataloging Information

Keyword(s):
  • carbon cycle
  • climate change
  • fire dynamics
  • fire severity
  • permafrost thaw
Region(s):
Record Maintained By:
Record Last Modified: April 25, 2019
FRAMES Record Number: 14872

Description

This 2-page research brief summarizes several years of field studies-citing recently published articles-by USGS soil scientists Jennifer Harden and Kristen Manies. Their studies shed new light on the impact of fires on permafrost in Alaska boreal forest, and interactions of fire effects and freezing effects on the forest floor. The insulating moss/duff layer plays a critical role in protecting permafrost and conditions suitable for the rapid regrowth of permafrost are keys to determining whether boreal forest will retain its ability to store large amounts of biomass carbon.

Online Link(s):
Link to this document (1.4 MB; pdf)
Citation:
Jandt, Randi; Harden, Jennifer; Manies, Kristen. 2013. Climate, Fire, Frost and the Carbon Bank. AFSC Research Brief 2013-1. Fairbanks, AK: Alaska Fire Science Consortium. 2 p.