大兴安岭2001-2010年森林火灾碳排放的计量估算

林火是森林生态系统重要的干扰因子,是导致植被和土壤碳储量减少的重要路径之一。森林火灾总碳和含碳气体的排放对气候变化具有重要影响,科学有效地对其进行计量,对了解全球的碳平衡和碳循环,以及森林火灾对大气碳平衡的影响机理均有重要意义。大兴安岭是我国唯一的寒温带针叶林区,又是森林火灾的多发区,科学计量该区森林火灾的碳排放量,对了解区域碳平衡具有重要意义。根据大兴安岭2001—2010年森林火灾统计资料和森林资源清查中各林型可燃物载量数据,通过野外调查和采样,并结合野外火烧迹地调查与室内控制环境实验相结合的方法确定各种计量参数,从林分水平上计量大兴安岭2001—2010年间森林火灾所排放的总碳和含碳气体排放量。结果表明:大兴安岭在10a间森林火灾所排放的总碳量为5.36×106t;含碳气体排放量CO2、CO、CH4和NMHC分别为1.73×107t、1.10×106t、7.10×104t和3.50×104t。通过分析可知3种兴安落叶松林型(杜鹃-落叶松林、杜香-落叶松林和草类-落叶松林)对该区的碳排放具有重要贡献,占总碳排放量的83.08%,占含碳气体排放量CO2、CO、CH4和NMHC分别为83.36%、82.25%、57.96%、81.00%。同时研究表明,该区年均的碳排放对区域碳平衡产生重要影响。     

1953-2011年小兴安岭森林火灾含碳气体排放的估算

根据1953-2011年小兴安岭森林调查数据和森林火灾统计资料,结合野外火烧迹地调查与室内控制试验数据,估算了小兴安岭1953-2011年森林火灾的碳排放量和含碳气体排放量.结果表明: 1953-2011年小兴安岭森林火灾的总碳排放量为1.12×10⁷ t,年均排放量为1.90×10⁵ t,约占全国年均森林火灾碳排放量的1.7%;其中,含碳气体CO₂、CO、CH₄和非甲烷烃(NMHC)的排放量分别为3.39×10⁷、1.94×10₅、1.09×10⁵和7.46×10⁴ t,相应年均排放量5.74×10⁵、3.29×10⁴、1.85×10³、1.27×10³ t分别占全国年均森林火灾含碳气体排放量的1.4%、1.2%、1.7%和1.1%.不同林型的燃烧效率和单位过火面积的碳排放量均为针叶林＞阔叶林＞针阔混交林.最后提出了合理的林火管理措施.     

1965–2010年大兴安岭森林火灾碳排放的估算研究

 火干扰是森林生态系统的重要干扰因子, 是导致植被和土壤碳储量发生变化的重要原因。火干扰所排放的含碳气体对气候变化具有重要的影响。科学有效地对森林火灾所排放的碳进行计量, 对了解区域和全球的碳平衡及碳循环具有重要的意义。根据大兴安岭森林资源调查数据和1965–2010年森林火灾统计资料, 利用地理信息系统GIS (geographic information system)技术, 通过野外火烧迹地调查与室内控制环境实验相结合的方法确定各种计量参数, 从林分水平上, 采用排放因子法, 估算了大兴安岭1965–2010年46年间森林火灾所排放的碳和含碳气体量。结果表明: 大兴安岭46年间森林火灾排放的碳为2.93 × 10⁷ t, 年平均排放量为6.38 × 10⁵ t, 约占全国年均森林火灾碳排放量的5.64%; 含碳气体CO₂、CO、CH₄和非甲烷烃(NMHC)的排放量分别为1.02 × 10⁸、9.41 × 10⁶、5.41 × 10⁵和2.11 × 10⁵ t, 含碳气体CO₂、CO、CH₄和NMHC的年均排放量分别为2.22 × 10⁶、2.05 × 10⁵、1.18 × 10⁴和4.59 × 10³ t, 分别占全国年均森林火灾各含碳气体排放量的5.46%、7.56%、10.54%和4.06%; 针阔混交林燃烧效率较低, 虽然火烧面积占总过火面积的21.23%, 但排放的碳只占总排放量的7.81%, 为此提出了相应的林火管理策略。     

浙江省1991—2006森林火灾直接碳释放量的估算

森林火灾是自然生态系统重要的干扰因子,在燃烧过程中释放大量的温室气体.随着全球温度持续升高,林火有更频发的趋势.根据1991—2006年浙江省森林火灾统计资料和浙江省各种森林类型地上生物量数据,采用排放因子法和排放比法,分析浙江省年均森林火灾温室气体排放量.结果表明:浙江省森林火灾平均每年释放CO₂、CO、甲烷(CH₄)和非甲烷烃(NMHC)分别为127930、7672.8、3098.7和1475.5 t;年均消耗生物量和碳损失量分别为86148.1和38766.7 t,对区域碳平衡有一定影响.     

1950—2008年江西省森林火灾的碳损失估算

1950—2008年间江西省年均发生森林火灾762次、年均过火面积1.578×104hm2.本文利用江西省森林火灾统计数据,结合气象、森林分布和历次森林清查数据,分析了该省林火的特征,估算历年的林火碳释放量和碳转移量.结果表明:1950—2008年江西省森林火灾导致的森林生物量总损失约61.155 Tg,活生物量碳库损失约30.993 Tg C,占全省植被碳库的15.92%.20世纪70年代以前林火生物量碳损失率约占1950—2008年生物量总碳损失的74.3%;90年代以后,年均林火生物量碳损失小于0.097 Tg C.森林火灾释放的CO2、CH4和CO气体分别为5.408 Tg、0.047 Tg和0.486 Tg,有22.436 Tg C活生物量碳进入土壤碳库.2008年初雨雪冰冻灾害引发的高频率次生林火灾害导致森林活生物量碳损失(0.463 Tg C)是前5年平均值(0.181 Tg C)的2.56倍.     

1950—2008年江西省森林火灾的碳损失估算

1950—2008年间江西省年均发生森林火灾762次、年均过火面积1.578×10.4 hm².本文利用江西省森林火灾统计数据,结合气象、森林分布和历次森林清查数据,分析了该省林火的特征,估算历年的林火碳释放量和碳转移量.结果表明： 1950—2008年江西省森林火灾导致的森林生物量总损失约61.155 Tg,活生物量碳库损失约30.993 Tg C,占全省植被碳库的15.92%.20世纪70年代以前林火生物量碳损失率约占1950—2008年生物量总碳损失的74.3%;90年代以后,年均林火生物量碳损失小于0.097 Tg C.森林火灾释放的CO₂、CH₄和CO气体分别为5.408 Tg、0.047 Tg和0.486 Tg,有22.436 Tg C活生物量碳进入土壤碳库.2008年初雨雪冰冻灾害引发的高频率次生林火灾害导致森林活生物量碳损失(0.463 Tg C)是前5年平均值(0.181 Tg C)的2.56倍.     

森林火灾碳排放计量模型研究进展

森林火灾是森林生态系统重要的干扰因子,是导致植被和土壤碳储量减少的重要途径之一.森林火灾含碳气体排放对大气碳平衡及全球气候变化具有重要影响,科学有效地对其进行计量,对了解森林火灾在全球碳循环和碳平衡中的地位具有重要意义.本文从3个方面阐述森林火灾碳排放计量模型的研究进展： 森林火灾直接排放总碳和含碳气体计量方法;森林火灾碳排放计量模型的影响因子及计量参数;森林火灾碳排放计量中不确定性原因剖析.最后提出了提高碳排放计量定量化的3种路径选择： 利用高分辨率遥感数据、改进算法、提高森林火灾面积的估测精度、结合有效可燃物计量模型,提高估测可燃物载量的准确率;使用高分辨率遥感影像,并结合室内控制实验、野外试验与火烧迹地调查确定燃烧效率;通过大量室内燃烧实验和野外空中采样来确定排放因子和排放比.     

吉林省主要林型森林火灾的碳量释放

火是森林生态系统主要的干扰因子,森林火灾的频繁发生不仅使森林生态系统遭到破坏,同时也造成了含碳温室气体的大量释放。国际上对森林火灾释放温室气体的研究越来越多,中国学者也对我国森林火灾释放的温室气体进行了研究。当前,对森林火灾释放碳量的估算主要应用平均生物量数据,而不是应用每次森林火灾实际燃烧的生物量,另外对林型森林火灾碳释放的差异研究不够深入。根据每次森林火灾实际燃烧的生物量来研究吉林省主要林型森林火灾碳释放。根据吉林省1969—2004年的森林火灾统计数据,计算出了吉林省主要林型森林火灾释放碳量。其中,白桦林、阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、落叶松林、柞树林、杨树林和红松林森林火灾直接释放的碳量占1969—2004年吉林省森林火灾碳释放总量的99.7%。白桦林、阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、落叶松林、柞树林、杨树林和红松林森林火灾年均释放的碳量分别为6593.75-8791.66、5650.28-7533.71、3906.57-5208.76、2110.75-2814.33、1613.71-2151.61、295.49-393.98、234.37-312.50 t。用排放比法得出了吉林省主要林型森林火灾释放的CO2、CO、CH4量。白桦林、阔叶混交林、针阔混交林、落叶松林、柞树林、杨树林和红松林森林火灾年均释放的CO2量分别为21759.36-29012.48、18645.93-24861.24、12891.69-17188.92、6965.46-9287.29、5325.25-7100.33、975.11-1300.14、773.43-1031.24 t,年均释放的CO量分别为1583.09-2110.78、1356.57-1808.76、937.93-1250.57、506.77-675.69、387.43-516.58、70.94-94.59、56.27-75.03 t,年均释放的CH4量分别为534.71-712.94、458.20-610.93、316.80-422.39、171.17-228.22、130.86-174.48、23.96-31.95、19.01-25.34 t。通过时间系列分析,白桦林自1980年以后、针阔混交林自1984年以后和红松林自1983年以后已经不是主要森林火灾碳释放林型。目前主要森林火灾碳释放林型为阔叶混交林、落叶松林、柞树林和杨树林,特别是柞树林,年均碳释放为237.12-316.16 t。     

林火碳排放研究概况及展望

林火是森林生态系统中一种重要的自然干扰,它直接或间接地将森林生态系统固定的碳重新释放到大气中,从而影响森林生态系统的碳预算和碳平衡。因此,科学准确地计量林火碳排放量对制定科学有效的林火管理措施,充分发挥森林的碳减排增汇效应,减缓气候变化速率等方面具有重要的意义。本文从林火排放的含碳气体、影响林火碳排放的因素、林火碳排放估算模型、林火碳排放量的估算四个方面阐述了林火碳排放的最新研究进展,针对目前林火碳排放研究中存在的问题,提出了今后的研究方向:1)森林可燃物燃烧效率的调查和测定;2)可燃物载量和林火烈度空间数据库的构建;3)林火间接碳排放的计量;4)气候变化条件下,林火碳排放的计量。     

基于生命周期评价的上海市水稻生产的碳足迹

碳足迹是指由企业、组织或个人引起的碳排放的集合。参照PAS2050规范并结合生命周期评价方法对上海市水稻生产进行了碳足迹评估。结果表明:(1)目前上海市水稻生产的碳排放为11.8114 t CO2e/hm2,折合每吨水稻生产周期的碳足迹为1.2321 t CO2e;(2)稻田温室气体排放是水稻生产最主要的碳排放源,每吨水稻生产的总排放量为0.9507 t CO2e,占水稻生产全部碳排放的77.1%,其中甲烷(CH4)又是最主要的温室气体,对稻田温室气体碳排放的贡献率高达96.6%;(3)化学肥料的施用是第二大碳排放源,每吨水稻生产的总排放量为0.2044 t CO2e,占水稻生产总碳排放的16.5%,其中N最高,排放量为0.1159 t CO2e。因此,上海低碳水稻生产的关键在降低稻田甲烷的排放,另外可通过提高氮肥利用效率,减少氮肥施用等方法减少种植过程中碳排放。     

Seasonal patterns in biomass burning emissions from southern African vegetation fires for the year 2000

A modeling framework has been developed to examine the spatial and temporal aspects of biomass burning emissions from southern African savanna fires. The complexity of the fire emissions processes is described using a spatially and temporally explicit model that integrates recently published satellite‐driven fuel load amounts, the GBA‐2000 satellite burned area time series and empirically derived parameterizations of combustion completeness and emission factors (EFs). To represent fire behavior characteristics, land cover is classified into grasslands and woodlands using the MODIS percent tree cover product. The combustion completeness is modeled as a function of grass fuel moisture and the EFs as a function of grass fuel moisture in grasslands and fuel mixture in woodlands. Fuel moisture is derived from satellite vegetation index time series. The analysis at the regional scale shows that early burning in grasslands may lead to higher amounts of products of incomplete combustion, despite the lower amounts of fuel consumed, compared with late dry season burning. In contrast, early burning in woodlands results in lower emissions, in both products of complete and incomplete combustion, because less fuel is consumed than in the late dry season when the fuels are drier. Overall, burning in woodlands dominates the regional emission budgets. Emissions estimates for various atmospheric species, many of which are modeled for the first time, are reported. The modeled estimates for 2000 are (in Tg) 296 CO₂, 11.7 CO, 0.350 CH₄, 0.348 NMHC and 1.1 particulates (<2.5 μm). Especially high is the previously undetermined contribution of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (0.915 Tg). A sensitivity analysis of fixed vs. seasonally variable EFs and combustion completeness demonstrates the importance of accounting for the seasonal variations of these two variables in emissions modeling.     

The Impact of Nitrogen Placement and Tillage on NO, N2O, CH4 and CO2 Fluxes from a Clay Loam Soil

To evaluate the impact of N placement depth and no-till (NT) practice on the emissions of NO, N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ from soils, we conducted two N placement experiments in a long-term tillage experiment site in northeastern Colorado in 2004. Trace gas flux measurements were made 2–3 times per week, in zero-N fertilizer plots that were cropped continuously to corn (Zea mays L.) under conventional-till (CT) and NT. Three N placement depths, replicated four times (5, 10 and 15 cm in Exp. 1 and 0, 5 and 10 cm in Exp. 2, respectively) were used. Liquid urea–ammonium nitrate (UAN, 224 kg N ha⁻¹) was injected to the desired depth in the CT- or NT-soils in each experiment. Mean flux rates of NO, N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ ranged from 3.9 to 5.2 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹, 60.5 to 92.4 μg N m⁻² h⁻¹, −0.8 to 0.5 μg C m⁻² h⁻¹, and 42.1 to 81.7 mg C m⁻² h⁻¹ in both experiments, respectively. Deep N placement (10 and 15 cm) resulted in lower NO and N₂O emissions compared with shallow N placement (0 and 5 cm) while CH₄ and CO₂ emissions were not affected by N placement in either experiment. Compared with N placement at 5 cm, for instance, averaged N₂O emissions from N placement at 10 cm were reduced by more than 50% in both experiments. Generally, NT decreased NO emission and CH₄ oxidation but increased N₂O emissions compared with CT irrespective of N placement depths. Total net global warming potential (GWP) for N₂O, CH₄ and CO₂ was reduced by deep N placement only in Exp. 1 but was increased by NT in both experiments. The study results suggest that deep N placement (e.g., 10 cm) will be an effective option for reducing N oxide emissions and GWP from both fertilized CT- and NT-soils.     

城市森林碳汇及其抵消能源碳排放效果——以广州为例

城市森林及其管理相关政策作为减少CO₂排放的有效策略得到了较为广泛的关注。采用材积源生物量方程与净初级生产力方法来定量分析了广州市城市森林碳储量和碳固定量,根据化石能源使用量及其碳排放因子核算了广州城市能源碳排放,最后评估了城市森林碳抵消效果。结果显示广州市城市森林碳储量为654.42×10⁴t,平均碳密度为28.81 t/hm²,而森林碳固定量为658732 t/a,平均固碳率为2.90 t·hm^-2·a^-1。2005-2010年广州市年均能源碳排放则达到2907.41×10⁴t。广州城市森林碳储量约为城市年均能源碳排放的22.51%,其通过碳固定年均能够抵消年均碳排放的2.27%,不过从城市森林综合效益来看其仍是城市低碳发展重要举措之一。分析了林型组成和林龄结构对于广州森林碳储量和碳固定量的影响,并从森林管理角度为城市森林碳汇提升提出建议。这些结果和讨论有助于评估城市森林碳汇在抵消碳排放中所起的效果。     

不同恢复方式下大兴安岭重度火烧迹地林地土壤温室气体通量

为研究大兴安岭重度火烧迹地在不同恢复方式下林地土壤CO₂、CH₄和N₂O排放特征及其影响因素,采用静态箱/气相色谱法,在2017年生长季（6月-9月）对3种恢复方式（人工更新、天然更新和人工促进天然更新）林地土壤温室气体CO₂、CH₄、N₂O通量进行了原位观测。研究结果表明：（1）3种恢复方式林地土壤在生长季均为大气CO₂、N₂O的源,CH₄的汇;生长季林地土壤CO₂排放通量大小关系为人工促进天然更新（（634.40±246.52）mg m^-2 h^-1） > 人工更新（（603.63±213.22）mg m^-2 h^-1） > 天然更新（（575.81±244.12）mg m^-2 h^-1）,3种恢复方式间无显著差异;人工更新林地土壤CH₄吸收通量显著高于人工促进天然更新;天然更新林地土壤N₂O排放通量显著高于其他两种恢复方式。（2）土壤温度是影响3种恢复方式林地土壤温室气体通量的关键因素;土壤水分仅对人工更新林地土壤N₂O通量有极显著影响（P < 0.01）;3种恢复方式林地土壤CO₂通量与大气湿度具有极显著的响应（P < 0.01）;土壤pH仅与天然更新林地土壤CO₂通量显著相关（P < 0.05）;土壤全氮含量仅与人工促进天然更新林地土壤CH₄通量显著相关（P < 0.05）。（3）基于100年尺度,由3种温室气体计算全球增温潜势得出,人工促进天然更新（1.83×10⁴ kg CO₂/hm²） > 人工更新（1.74×10⁴ kg CO₂/hm²） > 天然更新（1.67×10⁴ kg CO₂/hm²）。（4）阿木尔地区林地土壤年生长季CO₂和N₂O排放量为8.85×10⁶ t和1.88×10² t,CH₄吸收量为1.05×10³ t。     

Fluxes of greenhouse gases between soils and the atmosphere in a temperate forest following a simulated hurricane blowdown

Fluxes of nitrous oxide (N₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), and methane (CH₄) between soils and the atmosphere were measured monthly for one year in a 77-year-old temperate hardwood forest following a simulated hurricane blowdown. Emissions of CO₂ and uptake of CH₄ for the control plot were 4.92 MT C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ and 3.87 kg C ha⁻¹ y⁻¹, respectively, and were not significantly different from the blowdown plot. Annual N₂O emissions in the control plot (0.23 kg N ha⁻¹ y⁻¹) were low and were reduced 78% by the blowdown. Net N mineralization was not affected by the blowdown. Net nitrification was greater in the blowdown than in the control, however, the absolute rate of net nitrification, as well as the proportion of mineralized N that was nitrified, remained low. Fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄ were correlated positively to soil temperature, and CH, uptake showed a negative relationship to soil moisture. Substantial resprouting and leafing out of downed or damaged trees, and increased growth of understory vegetation following the blowdown, were probably responsible for the relatively small differences in soil temperature, moisture, N availability, and net N mineralization and net nitrification between the control and blowdown plots, thus resulting in no change in CO₂ or CH₄ fluxes, and no increase in N₂O emissions.     

The positive net radiative greenhouse gas forcing of increasing methane emissions from a thawing boreal forest‐wetland landscape

At the southern margin of permafrost in North America, climate change causes widespread permafrost thaw. In boreal lowlands, thawing forested permafrost peat plateaus (‘forest’) lead to expansion of permafrost‐free wetlands (‘wetland’). Expanding wetland area with saturated and warmer organic soils is expected to increase landscape methane (CH₄) emissions. Here, we quantify the thaw‐induced increase in CH₄ emissions for a boreal forest‐wetland landscape in the southern Taiga Plains, Canada, and evaluate its impact on net radiative forcing relative to potential long‐term net carbon dioxide (CO₂) exchange. Using nested wetland and landscape eddy covariance net CH₄ flux measurements in combination with flux footprint modeling, we find that landscape CH₄ emissions increase with increasing wetland‐to‐forest ratio. Landscape CH₄ emissions are most sensitive to this ratio during peak emission periods, when wetland soils are up to 10 °C warmer than forest soils. The cumulative growing season (May–October) wetland CH₄ emission of ~13 g CH₄ m^?2 is the dominating contribution to the landscape CH₄ emission of ~7 g CH₄ m^?2. In contrast, forest contributions to landscape CH₄ emissions appear to be negligible. The rapid wetland expansion of 0.26 ± 0.05% yr^?1 in this region causes an estimated growing season increase of 0.034 ± 0.007 g CH₄ m^?2 yr^?1 in landscape CH₄ emissions. A long‐term net CO₂ uptake of >200 g CO₂ m^?2 yr^?1 is required to offset the positive radiative forcing of increasing CH₄ emissions until the end of the 21st century as indicated by an atmospheric CH₄ and CO₂ concentration model. However, long‐term apparent carbon accumulation rates in similar boreal forest‐wetland landscapes and eddy covariance landscape net CO₂ flux measurements suggest a long‐term net CO₂ uptake between 49 and 157 g CO₂ m^?2 yr^?1. Thus, thaw‐induced CH₄ emission increases likely exert a positive net radiative greenhouse gas forcing through the 21st century.     

Greenhouse Gas Budget of a Cool-Temperate Deciduous Broad-Leaved Forest in Japan Estimated Using a Process-Based Model

A terrestrial ecosystem model, called the Vegetation Integrative Simulator for Trace gases model (VISIT), which fully integrates biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles, was developed to simulate atmosphere–ecosystem exchanges of greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O), and to determine the global warming potential (GWP) taking into account the radiative forcing effect of each gas. The model was then applied to a cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in Takayama, central Japan (36°08′N, 137°25′E, 1420 m above sea level). Simulations were conducted at a daily time step from 1948 to 2008, using time-series meteorological and nitrogen deposition data. VISIT accurately captured the carbon and nitrogen cycles of this typical Japanese forest, as validated by tower and chamber flux measurements. During the last 10 years of the simulation, the model estimated that the forest was a net greenhouse gas sink, having a GWP equivalent of 1025.7 g CO₂ m⁻² y⁻¹, most of which (1016.9 g CO₂ m⁻² y⁻¹) was accounted for by net CO₂ sequestration into forest biomass regrowth. CH₄ oxidation by the forest soil made a small contribution to the net sink (11.9 g CO₂-eq. m⁻² y⁻¹), whereas N₂O emissions were a very small source (3.2 g CO₂-eq. m⁻² y⁻¹), as expected for a volcanic soil in a humid climate. Analysis of the sensitivity of GWP to changes in temperature, precipitation, and nitrogen deposition indicated that warming temperatures would decrease the size of the sink, mainly as a result of increased CO₂ release due to increased ecosystem respiration.     

Fixing a snag in carbon emissions estimates from wildfires

Wildfire is an essential earth‐system process, impacting ecosystem processes and the carbon cycle. Forest fires are becoming more frequent and severe, yet gaps exist in the modeling of fire on vegetation and carbon dynamics. Strategies for reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from wildfires include increasing tree harvest, largely based on the public assumption that fires burn live forests to the ground, despite observations indicating that less than 5% of mature tree biomass is actually consumed. This misconception is also reflected though excessive combustion of live trees in models. Here, we show that regional emissions estimates using widely implemented combustion coefficients are 59%–83% higher than emissions based on field observations. Using unique field datasets from before and after wildfires and an improved ecosystem model, we provide strong evidence that these large overestimates can be reduced by using realistic biomass combustion factors and by accurately quantifying biomass in standing dead trees that decompose over decades to centuries after fire (“snags”). Most model development focuses on area burned; our results reveal that accurately representing combustion is also essential for quantifying fire impacts on ecosystems. Using our improvements, we find that western US forest fires have emitted 851 ± 228 Tg CO₂ (~half of alternative estimates) over the last 17 years, which is minor compared to 16,200 Tg CO₂ from fossil fuels across the region.     

Controls on carbon consumption during Alaskan wildland fires

A method was developed to estimate carbon consumed during wildland fires in interior Alaska based on medium‐spatial scale data (60 m cell size) generated on a daily basis. Carbon consumption estimates were developed for 41 fire events in the large fire year of 2004 and 34 fire events from the small fire years of 2006–2008. Total carbon consumed during the large fire year (2.72 × 10⁶ ha burned) was 64.7 Tg C, and the average carbon consumption during the small fire years (0.09 × 10⁶ ha burned) was 1.3 Tg C. Uncertainties for the annual carbon emissions ranged from 13% to 21%. Carbon consumed from burning of black spruce forests represented 76% of the total during large fire years and 57% during small fire years. This was the result of the widespread distribution of black spruce forests across the landscape and the deep burning of the surface organic layers common to these ecosystems. Average carbon consumed was 3.01 kg m^?2 during the large fire year and 1.69 kg m^?2 during the small fire years. Most of the carbon consumption was from burning of ground layer fuels (85% in the large fire year and 78% in small fire years). Most of the difference in average carbon consumption between large and small fire years was in the consumption of ground layer fuels (2.60 vs. 1.31 kg m^?2 during large and small fire years, respectively). There was great variation in average fuel consumption between individual fire events (0.56–5.06 kg m^?2) controlled by variations in fuel types and topography, timing of the fires during the fire season, and variations in fuel moisture at the time of burning.