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The Holocene
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A shift from natural to human-driven fire regime: implications for trace-gas emissions

Christopher F. Saamak

Institute of Geogrlaphv, (iiinersitv of Copelzhagen, 1350 Copenihagen K, Denmark

Vast aleas of the West Afiican savannas are burnied annua,iiv (lcnaCuLCt d U., 1991. Naural. lint ning-caused fires hiave existed for millions of years, but today 99",o, of the fires are of anthropogenic origin. The trace-gas emissions from these fires have not beein addressed with as much interest as the tropical-forest burninlgs. since the net CO, c0 eissions from savanna flies are zero. I'lossvxer. the burning of anx x cgetativx matter to a lesser or higher degree emits other importanit greenhouse or greenhouse-related trace gases such as Cl-4 and CO depending oni the burning efficiency of the fires. The but-ninig etfficiency of fire decreases with increased moistuire content, and recent findings have shown that the seasonal variation in non-CO, aases are A significanit as a finctioni of the varianice in the moisture content. Since natural fires occur xhen the fuel is diy, H Olocene and most human fires are ignited while the fuel is still moist, the slhift iu fire regime may hiave tripled the Research emissionis of non-CO2 gases.

Key Words: Fire regime • savanna • biomnass burning • vegetation burnling • gas emissions • West Africa

The Holocene, Vol. 11, No. 3, 373-375 (2001)
DOI: 10.1191/095968301669139230
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