Preprint

Large-Scale Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Burned Areas and Fire-Driven Mortality in Boreal Forests (North America)

Wendi ZhaoState Forestry and Grassland AdministrationQing ZhuShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water and Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection , College of Resources and Environment , Linyi University , Linyi , ChinaQiuling ChenShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water and Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection , College of Resources and Environment , Linyi University , Linyi , ChinaXiaohan MengShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water and Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection , College of Resources and Environment , Linyi University , Linyi , ChinaKexu SongShandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Water and Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection , College of Resources and Environment , Linyi University , Linyi , ChinaDiego I. Rodríguez‐HernándezSchool of Biological Sciences , University of Bristol , 24 Tyndall Avenue , Bristol , BS8 1TQ , United KingdomManuel Esteban Lucas‐BorjaEscuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica y de Montes y Biotecnología. Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genética , Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha , Albacete , SpainDemetrio Antonio ZemaAGRARIA Department , Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria , Località Feo di Vito , Reggio Calabria , ItalyTong ZhangGuangxi Key Laboratory of Superior Timber Trees Resource Cultivation , Guangxi Forestry Research Institute , Nanning , Guangxi 530002 , ChinaXiali GuoGuangxi Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Conservation , Key Laboratory of National Forestry and Grassland Administration on Cultivation of Fast-Growing Timber in Central South China , College of Forestry , Guangxi University , Nanning 530004 , China

2025en

ABI

Annotatsiya

Due to climate effects and human influences, wildfire regimes in boreal forests are changing, with noticeable ecological consequences shortening the fire return interval and increasing forest tree mortality. However, our understanding of the spatio-temporal patterns of fire-induced mortality in boreal forests remains limited, as research has predominantly focused on Mediterranean and tropical forests. In this study, we used satellite observations to study the spatial and temporal variability in burned area and forest mortality due to wildfires in North America (Alaska and Canada) over an 18-year period (2003 to 2020). The study has shown average values of burned area and forest mortality close to 8000 km2/yr and 40%, respectively. Burning and tree loss are mainly concentrated between May and September with a corresponding temporal trend in the occurrence of forest fires and high mortality. Large-scale forest fires were primarily concentrated in Central Canada, which however did not show the highest forest mortality (in contrast, recorded in Northern Canada). A correlation analysis based on general linear models showed that fire size and duration, but not the burned area, had significant effects on post-fire forest mortality. Overall, the study shed light on the most sensitive forest areas and time period to the detrimental effects of forest wildfire in boreal forests of North America.

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Identifikatorlar

DOI: 10.20944/preprints202506.1305.v1

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