Fire in the Earth System

TLDR

Fire, a global phenomenon that emerged with terrestrial plants, shapes ecosystem structure, the carbon cycle, and climate, yet its management remains imperfect and its representation in global models is inadequate, complicating risk assessment amid climate change. The study aims to identify key challenges in improving our understanding of fire’s role in the Earth system.

Abstract

Fire is a worldwide phenomenon that appears in the geological record soon after the appearance of terrestrial plants. Fire influences global ecosystem patterns and processes, including vegetation distribution and structure, the carbon cycle, and climate. Although humans and fire have always coexisted, our capacity to manage fire remains imperfect and may become more difficult in the future as climate change alters fire regimes. This risk is difficult to assess, however, because fires are still poorly represented in global models. Here, we discuss some of the most important issues involved in developing a better understanding of the role of fire in the Earth system.