Burned Permafrost Peatlands Release Carbon for Years After Wildfires, Researchers Find

Burned permafrost peatlands release carbon for years after wildfires, researchers find

In the face of climate change, permafrost peatland wildfires could play more of a role in the destructive cycle of global warming, University of Alberta research suggests.

Climate models may be missing massive carbon emissions from boreal wildfires

Northern wildfires may be more dangerous for the climate than they appear. Researchers found that fires in boreal forests can burn deep into peat soils, releasing ancient carbon stored for hundreds or thousands of years. These slow, smoldering fires often look small from space, causing climate models to underestimate their emissions.