Improved estimates of carbon emissions from the 2004 Alaska wildfires
Eric
S.
Kasischke, University of Maryland, ekasisch@umd.edu
(Presenting)
Elizabeth
Hoy, University of Maryland, elizabeth.hoy@gmail.com
Merritt
R.
Turetsky, Michigan State University, mrt@msu.com
Nancy
H.F.
French, Michigan Tech, nancy.frency@mtu.edu
Bill
de Groot, Canadian Forest Service, bdegroot@nrcan.gc.ca
Evan
S.
Kane, Michigan State University, kanee@msu.edu
Jennifer
Harden, USGS, jharden@usgs.gov
Results of a research project to improve estimates of carbon emissions from boreal fires is presented. Our study initially focused on collecting field data to reduce uncertainties in estimating surface fuel consumption in black spruce forests in Alaska, which represents a major source of uncertainty. We then developed a new approach to estimate emissions using a number of remote sensing data products integrated with field observations and fire weather indices. We used this new approach to estimate emissions from the 2004 Alaskan fires, which represented the largest fire season on history in this region.
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