Fire Phenomena and the Earth System: An Interdisciplinary Guide to Fire Science

Fire plays a key role in Earth system processes. Wildfiresinfluence the carbon cycle and the nutrient balance of our planet,and may even play a role in regulating the oxygen content of ouratmosphere. The evolutionary history of plants has been intimatelytied to fire and this in part explains the distribution of ourecosystems and their ability to withstand the effects of naturalfires today.

Fire Phenomena and the Earth System brings together thevarious subdisciplines within fire science to provide a synthesisof our understanding of the role of wildfire in the Earth system.The book shows how knowledge of fire phenomena and the nature ofcombustion of natural fuels can be used to understand modernwildfires, interpret fire events in the geological record and tounderstand the role of fire in a variety of Earth system processes.By bringing together chapters written by leading internationalresearchers from a range of geological, environmental, chemical andengineering disciplines, the book will stimulate the exchange ofideas and knowledge across these subject areas. Fire Phenomenaand the Earth System provides a truly interdisciplinary guidethat can inform us about Earth s past, present andbeyond.

Readership: Advanced students and researchers across awide range of earth, environmental and life sciences, includingbiogeochemistry, paleoclimatology, atmospheric science,palaeontology and paleoecology, combustion science, ecology andforestry.