Spatial distribution and temporal variability of open fire in China
Kunpeng Yi A D , Yulong Bao B and Jiquan Zhang C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Institute of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth (RADI), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100101, China.
B College of Geography Science, Inner Mongolia Normal University, Hohhot 101022, China.
C College of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China.
D Corresponding author. Email: yikp@radi.ac.cn
International Journal of Wildland Fire 26(2) 122-135 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF15213
Submitted: 26 August 2015 Accepted: 30 November 2016 Published: 18 January 2017
Abstract
This study presents the spatial and temporal patterns of vegetation fires in China based on a combination of national fire records (1950–2010) and satellite fire data (2001–12). This analysis presents the first attempt to understand existing patterns of open fires and their consequences for the whole of China. We analysed inter- and intra-annual fire trends and variations in nine subregions of China as well as associated monthly meteorological data from 130 stations within a 50-year period. During the period 2001–12, an average area of 3.2 × 106 ha was consumed by fire per year in China. The Chinese fire season has two peaks occurring in the spring and autumn. The profiles of the burnt area for each subregion exhibit distinct seasonality. The majority of the vegetation fires occurred in the north-eastern and south-western provinces. We analysed quantitative relationships between climate (temperature and precipitation) and burnt area. The results indicate a synchronous relationship between precipitation variation and burnt area. The data in this paper reveal how climate and human activities interact to create China’s distinctive pyrogeography.
Additional keywords: boreal forest, burnt area, crop residue burning, wildfire.
References
Aguado I, Chuvieco E, Boren R, Nieto H (2007) Estimation of dead fuel moisture content from meteorological data in Mediterranean areas. Applications in fire danger assessment. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 390–397.| Estimation of dead fuel moisture content from meteorological data in Mediterranean areas. Applications in fire danger assessment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Balshi MS, McGuire AD, Duffy P, Flannigan M, Walsh J, Melillo J (2009) Assessing the response of area burned to changing climate in western boreal North America using a Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) approach. Global Change Biology 15, 578–600.
| Assessing the response of area burned to changing climate in western boreal North America using a Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Caccamo G, Chisholm LA, Bradstock RA, Puotinen ML, Pippen BG (2012) Monitoring live fuel moisture content of heathland, shrubland and sclerophyll forest in south-eastern Australia using MODIS data. International Journal of Wildland Fire 21, 257–269.
| Monitoring live fuel moisture content of heathland, shrubland and sclerophyll forest in south-eastern Australia using MODIS data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cao GL, Zhang XY, Wang YQ, Zheng FC (2008) Estimation of emissions from field burning of crop straw in China. Chinese Science Bulletin 53, 784–790.
| Estimation of emissions from field burning of crop straw in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXjslyqur4%3D&md5=1a6a8c402e3777d04edeb88791d840d2CAS |
Chang Y, He HS, Bishop I, Hu YM, Bu RC, Xu CG, Li XZ (2007) Long-term forest landscape responses to fire exclusion in the Great Xing’an Mountains, China. International Journal of Wildland Fire 16, 34–44.
| Long-term forest landscape responses to fire exclusion in the Great Xing’an Mountains, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chang Y, He HS, Hu Y, Bu R, Li X (2008) Historic and current fire regimes in the Great Xing’an Mountains, north-eastern China: implications for long-term forest management. Forest Ecology and Management 254, 445–453.
| Historic and current fire regimes in the Great Xing’an Mountains, north-eastern China: implications for long-term forest management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clark JS, Stocks BJ, Richard PJH (1996) Climate implications of biomass burning since the 19th century in eastern North America. Global Change Biology 2, 433–442.
| Climate implications of biomass burning since the 19th century in eastern North America.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Flannigan MD, Logan KA, Amiro BD, Skinner WR, Stocks BJ (2005) Future area burned in Canada. Climatic Change 72, 1–16.
| Future area burned in Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtVyisrzM&md5=e51a81b442c2e31491861d4ea81c344bCAS |
Giglio L, Randerson JT, van der Werf GR (2013) Analysis of daily, monthly, and annual burned area using the fourth-generation global fire emissions database (GFED4). Journal of Geophysical Research. Biogeosciences 118, 317–328.
| Analysis of daily, monthly, and annual burned area using the fourth-generation global fire emissions database (GFED4).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gillett NP, Weaver AJ, Zwiers FW, Flannigan MD (2004) Detecting the effect of climate change on Canadian forest fires. Geophysical Research Letters 31, L18211
Higuera PE, Abatzoglou JT, Littell JS, Morgan P (2015) The changing strength and nature of fire–climate relationships in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA, 1902–2008. PLoS One 10, e0127563
| The changing strength and nature of fire–climate relationships in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA, 1902–2008.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hong J, Ren L, Hong J, Xu C (2016) Environmental impact assessment of corn straw utilization in China. Journal of Cleaner Production 112, 1700–1708.
Huang X, Li MM, Li JF, Song Y (2012) A high-resolution emission inventory of crop burning in fields in China based on MODIS thermal anomalies/fire products. Atmospheric Environment 50, 9–15.
| A high-resolution emission inventory of crop burning in fields in China based on MODIS thermal anomalies/fire products.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XitFWrsLk%3D&md5=0cd3fb9dcd0c04fb1d88c2dac9829f97CAS |
Justice CO, Giglio L, Korontzi S, Owens J, Morisette JT, Roy D, Descloitres J, Alleaume S, Petitcolin F, Kaufman Y (2002a) The MODIS fire products. Remote Sensing of Environment 83, 244–262.
| The MODIS fire products.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Justice CO, Townshend JRG, Vermote EF, Masuoka E, Wolfe RE, Saleous N, Roy DP, Morisette JT (2002b) An overview of MODIS Land data processing and product status. Remote Sensing of Environment 83, 3–15.
| An overview of MODIS Land data processing and product status.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kasischke ES, Turetsky MR (2006) Recent changes in the fire regime across the North American boreal region – spatial and temporal patterns of burning across Canada and Alaska. Geophysical Research Letters 33, L09703
Keywood M, Kanakidou M, Stohl A, Dentener F, Grassi G, Meyer CP, Torseth K, Edwards D, Thompson AM, Lohmann U, Burrows J (2013) Fire in the air: biomass burning impacts in a changing climate. Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 43, 40–83.
| Fire in the air: biomass burning impacts in a changing climate.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XhvVOqsrzM&md5=37c2ec03fd28740263d872968d18b3a8CAS |
Li JF, Song Y, Huang X, Li MM (2015) Comparison of forest burned areas in mainland China derived from MCD45A1 and data recorded in yearbooks from 2001 to 2011. International Journal of Wildland Fire 24, 103–113.
| Comparison of forest burned areas in mainland China derived from MCD45A1 and data recorded in yearbooks from 2001 to 2011.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li XN, He HS, Wu ZW, Liang Y, Schneiderman JE (2013) Comparing effects of climate warming, fire, and timber harvesting on a boreal forest landscape in north-eastern China. PLoS One 8, e59747
Littell JS, McKenzie D, Peterson DL, Westerling AL (2009) Climate and wildfire area burned in western US ecoprovinces, 1916–2003. Ecological Applications 19, 1003–1021.
| Climate and wildfire area burned in western US ecoprovinces, 1916–2003.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Liu ZH, Wimberly MC (2015) Climatic and landscape influences on fire regimes from 1984 to 2010 in the western United States. PLoS One 10, e0140839
Lv AF (2011) Study on the relationship among forest fire, temperature and precipitation and its spatial-temporal variability in China. Agricultural Science & Technology 12, 1396–1400.
Piao S, Fang J, Ciais P, Peylin P, Huang Y, Sitch S, Wang T (2009) The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems in China. Nature 458, 1009–1013.
| The carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems in China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1MXkvFKhtLc%3D&md5=9532166b01d12fe0eed9bf858c22ec00CAS |
Ponomarev EI, Kharuk VI (2016) Wildfire occurrence in forests of the Altai-Sayan region under current climate changes. Contemporary Problems of Ecology 9, 29–36.
| Wildfire occurrence in forests of the Altai-Sayan region under current climate changes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Randerson JT, Liu H, Flanner MG, Chambers SD, Jin Y, Hess PG, Pfister G, Mack MC, Treseder KK, Welp LR, Chapin FS, Harden JW, Goulden ML, Lyons E, Neff JC, Schuur EA, Zender CS (2006) The impact of boreal forest fire on climate warming. Science 314, 1130–1132.
| The impact of boreal forest fire on climate warming.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28Xht1SmtrjK&md5=b7262c23f9c3adaf77fc69ce79f99e3dCAS |
Roy DP, Giglio L, Kendall JD, Justice CO (1999) Multitemporal active-fire-based burn scar detection algorithm. International Journal of Remote Sensing 20, 1031–1038.
| Multitemporal active-fire-based burn scar detection algorithm.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roy DP, Jin Y, Lewis PE, Justice CO (2005) Prototyping a global algorithm for systematic fire-affected area mapping using MODIS time series data. Remote Sensing of Environment 97, 137–162.
| Prototyping a global algorithm for systematic fire-affected area mapping using MODIS time series data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roy DP, Boschetti L, Justice CO, Ju J (2008) The collection 5 MODIS burned area product – global evaluation by comparison with the MODIS active fire product. Remote Sensing of Environment 112, 3690–3707.
| The collection 5 MODIS burned area product – global evaluation by comparison with the MODIS active fire product.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Shea RW, Shea BW, Kauffman JB, Ward DE, Haskins CI, Scholes MC (1996) Fuel biomass and combustion factors associated with fires in savanna ecosystems of South Africa and Zambia. Journal of Geophysical Research, D, Atmospheres 101, 23551–23568.
| Fuel biomass and combustion factors associated with fires in savanna ecosystems of South Africa and Zambia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soja AJ, Tchebakova NM, French NHF, Flannigan MD, Shugart HH, Stocks BJ, Sukhinin AI, Parfenova EI, Chapin FS, Stackhouse PW (2007) Climate-induced boreal forest change: predictions versus current observations. Global and Planetary Change 56, 274–296.
| Climate-induced boreal forest change: predictions versus current observations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Song Y, Liu B, Miao W, Chang D, Zhang Y (2009) Spatiotemporal variation in non-agricultural open fire emissions in China from 2000 to 2007. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 23, GB2008
Su WH, Shi Z, Zhou R, Zhao YJ, Zhang GF (2015) The role of fire in the Central Yunnan Plateau ecosystem, south-western China. Forest Ecology and Management 356, 22–30.
| The role of fire in the Central Yunnan Plateau ecosystem, south-western China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tian XR, Zhao FJ, Shu LF, Wang MY (2014) Changes in forest fire danger for south-western China in the 21st century. International Journal of Wildland Fire 23, 185–195.
| Changes in forest fire danger for south-western China in the 21st century.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tian XR, Zhao FJ, Shu LF, Wang MY (2015) Dynamic characteristics of forest fires in the main ecological geographic districts of China. Scientia Silvae Sinicae 51, 71–77.
van der Werf GR, Randerson JT, Giglio L, Collatz GJ, Mu M, Kasibhatla PS, Morton DC, DeFries RS, Jin Y, van Leeuwen TT (2010) Global fire emissions and the contribution of deforestation, savanna, forest, agricultural, and peat fires (1997–2009). Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 10, 11707–11735.
| Global fire emissions and the contribution of deforestation, savanna, forest, agricultural, and peat fires (1997–2009).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXmvFemsb0%3D&md5=a817c81d5376e1166c2fb915665887eeCAS |
Vasileva A, Moiseenko K (2013) Methane emissions from 2000 to 2011 wildfires in north-east Eurasia estimated with MODIS burned area data. Atmospheric Environment 71, 115–121.
| Methane emissions from 2000 to 2011 wildfires in north-east Eurasia estimated with MODIS burned area data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXktlCrt70%3D&md5=1d3c23de27f443327ec029d75fa4972dCAS |
Veira A, Lasslop G, Kloster S (2016) Wildfires in a warmer climate: emission fluxes, emission heights, and black carbon concentrations in 2090–2099. Journal of Geophysical Research, D, Atmospheres 121, 3195–3223.
| Wildfires in a warmer climate: emission fluxes, emission heights, and black carbon concentrations in 2090–2099.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC28XmsFOms74%3D&md5=2011f8035c1283507920f69c3f9c6873CAS |
Wang CK, Gower ST, Wang YH, Zhao HX, Yan P, Bond-Lamberty BP (2001) The influence of fire on carbon distribution and net primary production of boreal Larix gmelinii forests in north-eastern China. Global Change Biology 7, 719–730.
| The influence of fire on carbon distribution and net primary production of boreal Larix gmelinii forests in north-eastern China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Westerling AL, Hidalgo HG, Cayan DR, Swetnam TW (2006) Warming and earlier spring increase western US forest wildfire activity. Science 313, 940–943.
| Warming and earlier spring increase western US forest wildfire activity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XotFCitbo%3D&md5=cbcea74aa07cca2474f3f7a57e8a12acCAS |
Yang SJ, He HP, Lu SL, Chen D, Zhu JX (2008) Quantification of crop residue burning in the field and its influence on ambient air quality in Suqian, China. Atmospheric Environment 42, 1961–1969.
| Quantification of crop residue burning in the field and its influence on ambient air quality in Suqian, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitlWis7c%3D&md5=94568b6979a60851675c5194821aa51fCAS |
Zhang LB, Liu YQ, Hao L (2016) Contributions of open crop straw burning emissions to PM2.5 concentrations in China. Environmental Research Letters 11, 014014
Zhong M, Fan W, Liu T, Li P (2003) Statistical analysis on current status of China forest fire safety. Fire Safety Journal 38, 257–269.
| Statistical analysis on current status of China forest fire safety.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXovFWisLk%3D&md5=ca1dde9d13c441fea6eaa1886d938f0cCAS |
