Journal: Science
Advances
Title: Extensive
fires in southeastern Siberian permafrost linked to preceding Arctic
Oscillation
Authors: Jin-Soo Kim,
Jong-Seong Kug, Su-Jong Jeong, Hotaek Park, Gabriela Schaepman-Strub
Abstract: Carbon
release through boreal fires could considerably accelerate Arctic warming;
however, boreal fire occurrence mechanisms and dynamics remain largely unknown.
Here, we analyze fire activity and relevant large-scale atmospheric conditions
over southeastern Siberia, which has the largest burned area fraction in the
circumboreal and high-level carbon emissions due to high-density peatlands. It
is found that the annual burned area increased when a positive Arctic
Oscillation (AO) takes place in early months of the year, despite peak fire
season occurring 1 to 2 months later. A local high-pressure system linked to
the AO drives a high-temperature anomaly in late winter, causing premature
snowmelt. This causes earlier ground surface exposure and drier ground in
spring due to enhanced evaporation, promoting fire spreading. Recently,
southeastern Siberia has experienced warming and snow retreat; therefore,
southeastern Siberia requires appropriate fire management strategies to prevent
massive carbon release and accelerated global warming.
Link: https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/2/eaax3308