JFSP GRIN - Quantifying the effects of fuel size on charcoal formation during prescribed fire
Research Team: Morgan Wiechmann, Matthew Hurteau, Jason Kaye
Objectives: Black carbon is formed by the smoldering combustion of biomass is covers a continuum of forms from partly charred plant material (charcoal) to soot and graphite particles. The charring of forest fuels has been found to significantly increase the length of time of this biomass carbon remains in forest soils. The objective of this research is to quantify the effects of pre-fire fuel load and fuel type on charcoal formation resulting from prescribed fire.
Approach: This project leverages on-going experimental efforts at the Teakettle Experimental Forest. The Teakettle Experiment included mechanical and prescribed fire treatments and sought to quantify the effects of these different management actions on a range of ecosystem attributes. This project involves sampling soils adjacent to and down-slope from large logs in treatments that included prescribed burning. Soils are sieved to isolate macro-particles of charcoal from mineral soil material and forest litter and then dried, weighed, and analyzed for total carbon using an elemental analyzer.
Potential Impact: The results of this research will help improve our understanding of the effects of prescribed fire on forest carbon dynamics. Specifically, this research will provide more insight into the production of this long-lived form of carbon, an important factor to consider when evaluating the carbon impacts of prescribed burning.
Research Products:
Papers
Wiechmann, M.L., M.D. Hurteau, J.P. Kaye, J.R. Miesel. 2015. Macro-particle charcoal C content following prescribed burning in a mixed-conifer forest, Sierra Nevada, California. PLoS ONE 10(8):e0135014.
Presentations
Wiechmann, ML, MD Hurteau. The effect of thinning and burning on charcoal formation and carbon storage in a mixed-conifer forest, Sierra Nevada, California. 2014 meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
Research Briefs
Prescribed fire and charcoal production
Research Team: Morgan Wiechmann, Matthew Hurteau, Jason Kaye
Objectives: Black carbon is formed by the smoldering combustion of biomass is covers a continuum of forms from partly charred plant material (charcoal) to soot and graphite particles. The charring of forest fuels has been found to significantly increase the length of time of this biomass carbon remains in forest soils. The objective of this research is to quantify the effects of pre-fire fuel load and fuel type on charcoal formation resulting from prescribed fire.
Approach: This project leverages on-going experimental efforts at the Teakettle Experimental Forest. The Teakettle Experiment included mechanical and prescribed fire treatments and sought to quantify the effects of these different management actions on a range of ecosystem attributes. This project involves sampling soils adjacent to and down-slope from large logs in treatments that included prescribed burning. Soils are sieved to isolate macro-particles of charcoal from mineral soil material and forest litter and then dried, weighed, and analyzed for total carbon using an elemental analyzer.
Potential Impact: The results of this research will help improve our understanding of the effects of prescribed fire on forest carbon dynamics. Specifically, this research will provide more insight into the production of this long-lived form of carbon, an important factor to consider when evaluating the carbon impacts of prescribed burning.
Research Products:
Papers
Wiechmann, M.L., M.D. Hurteau, J.P. Kaye, J.R. Miesel. 2015. Macro-particle charcoal C content following prescribed burning in a mixed-conifer forest, Sierra Nevada, California. PLoS ONE 10(8):e0135014.
Presentations
Wiechmann, ML, MD Hurteau. The effect of thinning and burning on charcoal formation and carbon storage in a mixed-conifer forest, Sierra Nevada, California. 2014 meeting of the Ecological Society of America.
Research Briefs
Prescribed fire and charcoal production