Wildfires Continue Emitting Carbon Dioxide Long After They Die
A recent study has found that forests destroyed by wildfires continue to emit carbon dioxide (CO₂) for years after the flames have been extinguished. The boreal forest, a critical CO₂ sink stretching across Earth’s northern latitudes, plays a crucial role in removing carbon from the atmosphere. However, when these forests burn, they release large amounts of CO₂, exacerbating climate change.
Impact of Wildfires on Boreal Forests
The research, conducted in central Sweden following the extreme wildfires of 2018, revealed that burnt areas continue to release CO₂ long after the fires have died down. This ongoing emission is significant, as it doubles the amount of CO₂ released during the fire itself. Scientists measured CO₂ exchange between the land and atmosphere over four years, comparing burnt and unburnt regions, as well as areas subjected to different post-fire management strategies.
Post-Fire Emissions and Recovery
In the study, areas where trees were killed by the fire or removed through salvage logging emitted an average of 650 grams of carbon per square metre in the first four years. In comparison, an unburnt forest of similar size would typically remove 1,200 grams of carbon from the atmosphere during the same period. The findings suggest that it could take more than 40 years for the burnt forest to recapture the CO₂ lost in the fire.
Role of Post-Fire Management
The research also highlighted the importance of post-fire management in the recovery of forests. Practices like salvage logging and soil ploughing, which are common in Sweden, were found to slow down the regrowth of vegetation. This delay hinders the forest’s ability to become a CO₂ sink again. Conversely, leaving surviving trees standing allows them to continue capturing carbon, albeit at a reduced rate.
Implications for Climate Modelling
This study emphasizes the need to rethink forest management practices as wildfires become more frequent due to climate change. It also calls for climate modellers to factor in the prolonged CO₂ emissions from burnt forests when assessing the environmental impact of wildfires.
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The final supermoon of 2024, known as the Beaver Moon, will make its appearance on Friday, November 15. This full moon, which will reach its peak illumination at 4:29 PM EST, is anticipated by lunar enthusiasts as it marks the last supermoon event of the year. Visible as dawn approaches in Jakarta, this celestial event follows October’s Hunter’s Moon and concludes a sequence of four consecutive supermoons observed throughout 2024, according to NASA.
What is the Beaver Moon?
November’s full moon is traditionally called the Beaver Moon, a term that originates from Native American customs and was popularised by the Maine Farmer’s Almanac. This name is linked to the seasonal timing when beavers prepare their dens for winter or were historically hunted to ensure a supply of warm furs. In various regions, November’s full moon is also known as the Frost Moon or Snow Moon, reflecting the colder weather patterns typically seen in North America during this time.
When to See the Beaver Moon
The Beaver Moon will appear full to viewers for three days, from the early hours of 14 November to just before sunrise on November 17. This gives stargazers multiple opportunities to catch a glimpse of the bright, enlarged moon, which will be slightly closer to Earth than usual, enhancing its size and brightness compared to typical full moons. This phenomenon occurs when the moon reaches its closest orbital point, known as perigee, during a full phase, resulting in what is known as a supermoon.
Other Astronomical Highlights This Month
Apart from the Beaver Moon, November brings other notable astronomical events. On 16 November, Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation, making it ideal for evening observation. Additionally, the Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak from November 17 to 18, providing another highlight for skywatchers. Uranus will also be visible, reaching its closest point to Earth on November 17, according to Seasky.org, giving viewers a brighter and more accessible sighting.
For those interested in astronomy, November 15 offers a special chance to observe this year’s last supermoon before the seasonal Cold Moon arrives in December.
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A faint electric field has been detected in Earth’s atmosphere, confirming a theory that scientists have held for decades. This ambipolar electric field, though weak at just 0.55 volts, could play a vital role in shaping Earth’s atmospheric evolution and its ability to support life, according to recent findings. Glyn Collinson, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, led the Endurance rocket mission, which successfully measured this field in May 2022 above Svalbard, Norway. Collinson has described this field as a “planetary-energy field” that had eluded scientific measurement until now.
How the Ambipolar Field Affects Earth’s Atmosphere
The presence of this field is thought to explain a phenomenon observed decades ago—the polar wind. When sunlight strikes atoms in the upper atmosphere, it can cause negatively charged electrons to break free and drift into space, while the heavier, positively charged oxygen ions remain. To maintain an electrically neutral atmosphere, a faint electric field forms, tying these particles together and preventing electrons from escaping. This weak field has been shown to provide energy to lighter ions, such as hydrogen, enabling them to break free from Earth’s gravity and contribute to the polar wind.
This ambipolar electric field could have implications for planetary habitability. David Brain, a planetary scientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, noted that understanding how such fields vary across planets could shed light on why Earth has remained habitable compared to planets like Mars and Venus. Although both Mars and Venus have electric fields, the absence of a global magnetic field on those planets allowed more of their atmospheres to escape into space, potentially altering their climates significantly.
Further Research Planned
NASA has recently approved a follow-up mission with a rocket named Resolute, expected to launch soon. Collinson believes that continued investigation into planetary electric fields may help answer fundamental questions about why Earth supports life while other planets do not.
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