Description
Book SynopsisFire plays a key role in Earth system processes. Wildfires influence the carbon cycle and the nutrient balance of our planet, and may even play a role in regulating the oxygen content of our atmosphere. The evolutionary history of plants has been intimately tied to fire and this in part explains the distribution of our ecosystems and their ability to withstand the effects of natural fires today.
Fire Phenomena and the Earth System brings together the various subdisciplines within fire science to provide a synthesis of our understanding of the role of wildfire in the Earth system. The book shows how knowledge of fire phenomena and the nature of combustion of natural fuels can be used to understand modern wildfires, interpret fire events in the geological record and to understand the role of fire in a variety of Earth system processes. By bringing together chapters written by leading international researchers from a range of geological, environmental, chemical and engineering
Trade Review
“A high quality book construction is expected from Wiley-Blackwell, and is delivered. Altogether a book that would be a valuable addition to your bookshelf.” (Weather, 1 January 2014)
“Summing Up: Highly recommended. Students of all levels in fire science, ecology, and physical geography, researchers/faculty, and professionals/practitioners.” (Choice, 1 January 2014)
Table of ContentsContributors, vii
Foreword, ix
Preface, xii
Acknowledgements, xv
PART 1 FIRE BEHAVIOUR, 1
1 An Introduction to Combustion in Organic Materials, 3
Jose L. Torero
2 Smouldering Fires and Natural Fuels, 15
Guillermo Rein
3 Experimental Understanding of Wildland Fires, 35
Albert Simeoni
4 Wildfire Behaviour and Danger Ratings, 53
Eulalia Planas and Elsa Pastor
5 Satellite Remote Sensing of Fires, 77
David P. Roy, Luigi Boschetti and Alistair M.S. Smith
PART 2 FIRE AND THE BIOSPHERE, 95
6 Understanding Fire Regimes and the Ecological Effects of Fire, 97
G. Matt Davies
7 Plant Adaptations to Fire: an Evolutionary Perspective, 125
Jeremy J. Midgley and William J. Bond
8 Fire and the Land Surface, 135
Stefan H. Doerr and Richard A. Shakesby
9 Identification of Black Carbon in the Earth System, 157
Karen Hammes and Samuel Abiven
PART 3 FIRE AND THE EARTH’S PAST, 177
10 Identifying Past Fire Events, 179
Ian J. Glasspool and Andrew C. Scott
11 A 21 000-Year History of Fire, 207
Mitchell J. Power
12 A 450-Million-Year History of Fire, 229
Claire M. Belcher, Margaret E. Collinson and Andrew C. Scott
PART 4 FIRE AND THE EARTH SYSTEM, 251
13 Evaluating the Atmospheric Impact of Wildfires, 253
Solene Turquety
14 The Dependence of Flame Spread and Probability of Ignition on Atmospheric Oxygen: an Experimental Investigation, 273
Andrew J. Watson and James E. Lovelock
15 Fire Feedbacks on Atmospheric Oxygen, 289
Timothy M. Lenton
16 Biochar and Carbon Sequestration, 309
Ondøej Mašek
Index, 323
Colour plate section 1 falls between pages 16 and 17
Colour plate section 2 falls between pages 192 and 193
