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The problem is that Canada is covered in peatlands. Once they dry out, controlled burns can ignite peat several meters deep and release one of the biggest carbo
by akiselev 3y ago
The problem is that Canada is covered in peatlands. Once they dry out, controlled burns can ignite peat several meters deep and release one of the biggest carbon stores on the planet.
See what happened with the Russian wildfires in 2010 [1] - this is a consequence of climate change and unfortunately many of the old fire prevention strategies won't work with Canadian peatland drying out.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Russian_wildfires https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Russian_wildfires
- zamadatix 3y agoWon't that happen whether or not these fires are controlled or uncontrolled, at this point?
- christophilus 3y agoYep.
- akiselev 3y agoYes but the point of controlled burns in California (for example) is that they eliminate fuel as the ecosystem gets drier. In peatlands, controlled burns instead make more fuel available by drying out the peat, causing a death spiral.
- Solvency 3y agoSo, what do you do?