Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season in Canada

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: Aug. 20, 2024

Abstract The 2023 wildfire season in Canada was unprecedented its scale and intensity, spanning from mid-April to late October across much of the forested regions Canada. Here, we summarize main causes impacts this exceptional season. record-breaking total area burned (~15 Mha) can be attributed several environmental factors that converged early season: snowmelt, multiannual drought conditions western Canada, rapid transition eastern Anthropogenic climate change enabled sustained extreme fire weather conditions, as mean May–October temperature over 2.2 °C warmer than 1991–2020 average. were profound with more 200 communities evacuated, millions exposed hazardous air quality smoke, unmatched demands on fire-fighting resources. not only set new records, but highlights increasing challenges posed by wildfires

Language: Английский

---

Assessing changes in global fire regimes

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 20(1)

Published: Feb. 8, 2024

Abstract Background The global human footprint has fundamentally altered wildfire regimes, creating serious consequences for health, biodiversity, and climate. However, it remains difficult to project how long-term interactions among land use, management, climate change will affect fire behavior, representing a key knowledge gap sustainable management. We used expert assessment combine opinions about past future regimes from 99 researchers. asked quantitative qualitative assessments of the frequency, type, implications regime beginning Holocene through year 2300. Results Respondents indicated some direct influence on since at least ~ 12,000 years BP, though natural variability remained dominant driver until around 5,000 most study regions. Responses suggested ten-fold increase in frequency during last 250 compared with rest Holocene, corresponding first intensification extensification use later anthropogenic change. Looking future, were predicted intensify, increases severity, size all biomes except grassland ecosystems. Fire showed different sensitivities across biomes, but likelihood increased higher warming scenarios biomes. Biodiversity, carbon storage, other ecosystem services decrease under emission scenarios. present recommendations adaptation mitigation emerging while recognizing that management options are constrained Conclusion humans over two centuries. perspective gained fires should be considered strategies, novel behavior is likely given unprecedented disruption plant communities, climate, factors. Future degrade services, unless aggressively mitigated. Expert complements empirical data modeling, providing broader science inform decision making research priorities.

Language: Английский

---

Timber harvesting was the most important factor driving changes in vegetation composition, as compared to climate and fire regime shifts, in the mixedwood temperate forests of Temiscamingue since AD 1830

Landscape Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 40(2)

Published: Jan. 20, 2025

Abstract Context The vegetation composition of northeastern North American forests has significantly changed since pre-settlement times, with a marked reduction in conifer-dominated stands, taxonomic and functional diversity. These changes have been attributed to fire regime shifts, logging, climate change. Methods In this study, we disentangled the individual effects these drivers on forest southwestern Quebec from 1830 2000 by conducting retrospective modelling using LANDIS-II landscape model. model was run based history reconstructions, historical timber harvest records, reanalysis data. We compared counterfactual scenarios excluding factors baseline scenario. Results Conclusions Our results indicated that harvesting had greatest impact dynamics over past centuries. absence harvesting, species abundances were largely maintained, preserving key traits like shade tolerance contribute ecosystem resilience. Increased activity during settlement period contributed increase early-successional aspen (Populus tremuloides), but played dominant role. Fire exclusion no influence composition, suggesting mesophication unfolds longer timescales than those captured study. Climate change, characterized modest increases temperature precipitation, minor effect as increased precipitation might mitigated adverse rising temperatures. However, future change is projected become more significant driver composition. findings underscore importance restoration continued research better understand current changes.

Language: Английский

---

Canada Under Fire – Drivers and Impacts of the Record-Breaking 2023 Wildfire Season

Authorea (Authorea), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

The 2023 wildfire season in Canada was unprecedented its scale and intensity. Spanning from late April to early November extending across much of the forested regions Canada, resulted a record-breaking total area burned approximately 15 million hectares, over seven times historic national annual average. impacts were profound with more than 200 communities evacuated (approximately 232,000 people), periods dense smoke that caused significant public health concerns, demands on fire-fighting resources. exceptional can be attributed several environmental factors converged enable extreme fire danger country. These included snowmelt, interannual drought conditions western rapid transition eastern Canada. Furthermore, mean May-October temperature staggering 2.2°C warmer normal (1991-2020), enabling sustained weather throughout season. led larger proportion very large fires (> 50,000 hectares), many having for months spring into fall. Fires started May or June accounted two-thirds burned. Overall, characterized by major societal impacts, setting new records highlighting increasing challenges posed wildfires

Language: Английский

---

Indigenous‐led research on traditional territories highlights the impacts of forestry harvest practices on culturally important plants

Earth stewardship., Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 2(1)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract Indigenous knowledge and governance are critical to successful conservation Peoples' ability live sustainably on their lands. However, various industrial land use practices impact the value traditional resources these lands provide. Here, we evaluated effects of harvest, glyphosate application, fire 51 edible medicinal plant species identified by Peoples in western boreal forest Canada, a landscape rapid industrialized change. We collected vegetation data between 2007 2020 used linear models machine learning model richness abundance species. Glyphosate application harvest best explained Despite our models' indication that were higher harvested treated study sites, detailed qualitative based local suggest forestry negatively impacted plants. Importantly, plants areas with unsuitable for human consumption exhibited abnormal color flavor presentations. Concerns over access increasingly important as impacts continue expand globally. Thus, hope this Indigenous‐led design leveraging both quantitative can result partnerships better reflect environmental concerns Peoples.

Language: Английский

---

Local and regional factors influencing historical forest fires in eastern Fennoscandia

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1924)

Published: April 1, 2025

We aimed at disentangling the role of different local and regional controls influencing fire occurrence in two geographically distinct forest reserves Finland. used dendrochronological data to reconstruct histories and, using survival analysis, analysed as a function stand (mesic xeric site type, topographical wetness index) landscape characteristics (stand area, neighbouring identity shared border length), study region. In total, we dated 182 fires between 1574 1921. Fires were most active during 1712–1887, several burning up 10% have been absent since early 1900s. Regardless one had higher probability burn than either type other, showing importance larger-scale spatial variation. Also, played role, with mesic neighbour decreasing stand. highlighted context (e.g. differences human use forests) structure, which may play determinant historical regimes. This article is part theme issue ‘Novel regimes under climate changes influences: impacts, ecosystem responses feedbacks’.

Language: Английский

---

The 2023 wildfire season in Québec: an overview of extreme conditions, impacts, lessons learned and considerations for the future

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 22, 2024

Abstract The 2023 wildfire season in Québec set records due to extreme warm and dry conditions, burning 4.5 million hectares indicating persistent escalating impacts associated with climate change. study reviews the unusual weather conditions that led fires, discussing their extensive on forest sector, fire management, boreal caribou habitats, particularly profound effects First Nation communities. wildfires significant declines productivity timber supply, overwhelming management resources, necessitating widespread evacuations. territories were dramatically altered, facing severe air quality issues disruptions. While modest across province, broader ecological, economical, social repercussions considerable. To mitigate future seasons, suggests changes practices increase resilience resistance, adapting industrial structures new supplies, enhancing suppression risk strategies. It calls for a comprehensive, unified approach incorporates lessons from accounts ongoing underscores urgent need detailed planning proactive measures reduce growing risks of changing climate.

Language: Английский

---

Interactions within the climate-vegetation-fire nexus may transform 21st century boreal forests in northwestern Canada

iScience, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(6), P. 106807 - 106807

Published: May 11, 2023

Dry and warm conditions have exacerbated the occurrence of large severe wildfires over past decade in Canada's Northwest Territories (NT). Although temperatures are expected to increase during 21st century, we lack understanding how climate-vegetation-fire nexus might respond. We used a dynamic global vegetation model project annual burn rates, as well tree species composition biomass NT century using IPCC's climate scenarios. Burn rates will decrease most by mid-21st concomitant with loss fire-prone evergreen needleleaf species, broadleaf species. The southeastern is projected experience enhanced fire activity late according scenario RCP4.5, supported higher production flammable biomass. results underlie potential for major impacts change on NT's terrestrial ecosystems.

Language: Английский

---

A fire deficit persists across diverse North American forests despite recent increases in area burned

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Feb. 10, 2025

Rapid increases in wildfire area burned across North American forests pose novel challenges for managers and society. Increasing raises questions about whether, to what degree, contemporary fire regimes (1984–2022) are still departed from historical (pre-1880). We use the tree-ring fire-scar network (NAFSN), a multi-century record comprising >1800 sites spanning diverse forest types, perimeters ask whether there is surplus or deficit, recent years unprecedented relative regimes. Our results indicate, despite increasing decades, that widespread deficit persists range of types with exceptionally high not when considering perspective offered by fire-scarred trees. For example, 'record' such as 2020 6% NAFSN sites—the average—well below maximum 29% 1748. Although extent many forests, abundant evidence severity driving loss ecosystems adversely impacting human lives, infrastructure, water supplies. Across exceptional Nevertheless, suggests its adverse impacts on humans.

Language: Английский

---

PDO Dynamics Shape the Fire Regime of Boreal Subarctic Landscapes in the Northwest Territories, Canada

Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 130(2)

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

Abstract Spatially explicit reconstructions of fire activity in northwestern boreal Canada are rare, despite their importance for modeling current and future disturbance regimes forest dynamics. We provide a dendrochronological reconstruction historical along Highway 3 the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, within subarctic zone. dated 129 fires that occurred between 1202 2015 CE, using samples from 479 fire‐scarred living dead jack pine trees ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.). Three distinct periods can be distinguished terms cycle (FC) occurrence. Initially (1340–1440 CE), was low (FC = 572 years; 1 fire/decade), before increasing notably 1460 1840 171 4.45 fires/decade), even more recent times (1860–2015 CE; FC 95 7.63 fires/decade). Climate has been an important factor controlling changes frequency NWT since 1300s. The 1440s 1850s correspond with increased synchronized shifts negative to positive Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) phases. Since mid‐1800s, human activities may have contributed increase activity, but climate remained leading factor. During 20th century, years area burned corresponded drier‐than‐average conditions associated PDO, suggesting study region is still influenced by climate. Spatial teleconnection patterns among drought, large (LFYs) reveal persistent relationships ocean‐atmosphere circulation activity. PDO dynamics hold strong potential predicting regional hazards across North America.

Language: Английский

---