Dead organic matter and the dynamics of carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in frequently burnt savannas
Garry D. Cook A D , C. P. (Mick) Meyer B , Maëlys Muepu C and Adam C. Liedloff A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A CSIRO Land and Water, PMB 44, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia.
B CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, PMB 1, Aspendale, Vic. 3195, Australia.
C Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Biologie et Physique, Pessac, France (c/o PMB 44, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia).
D Corresponding author. Email: garry.cook@csiro.au
International Journal of Wildland Fire 25(12) 1252-1263 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF15218
Submitted: 11 December 2015 Accepted: 12 August 2016 Published: 18 October 2016
Abstract
We developed a gain–loss approach to estimating the dynamics of the dead organic matter pool in northern Australian savannas consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2006 guidance. Previously, only emissions of methane and nitrous oxide were accounted in greenhouse gas budgets. The new approach is based on a modification of the Olson fuel accumulation equation. This modification includes the mean post-fire residue and accounts for losses from both fire and decomposition and for gains from grass production, tree litter fall and the death of trees. We apply the approach to a case study in western Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia, in which the fire regime has been changed and the project has achieved recognised abatement of methane and nitrous oxide emissions. The carbon sequestration in the dead organic matter is ~85 times the annual emissions abatement in this project area and when expressed as an annual rate is ~3.5 times the abatement. We also show that the emissions abatement has previously been underestimated owing to an inability to fully account for dead organic matter dynamics. Future work could refine the models of dead organic matter to include seasonal dynamics in inputs.
Additional keywords: ash, coarse woody debris, combustion, decomposition, fuel, residue.
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