A new study in Geophysical Research Letters reveals that soil and peat fires, not just burning trees, were the main source of carbon emissions from Canada's record 2023 wildfire season. Researchers found that three-quarters of the 610 million tons of carbon released came from ground-level combustion in peatlands and soil. The Hudson Bay Lowlands, one of the world's largest peatland complexes, stores an estimated 33 billion tons of carbon, much of which is now vulnerable as hot and dry conditions allow smoldering fires to persist. The 2023 wildfires burned 37.3 million acres, seven times Canada's 20-year average. Emissions from these fires were roughly three times Canada's total annual human-caused greenhouse gas emissions for 2022. The study's lead author emphasizes that forest management alone cannot address the problem, as many fires occur in remote, unmanaged areas. The findings underscore the urgent need for global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change, which is driving more intense fire seasons.
