Wildfires Regulate Carbon Accumulation in Ancient Peatlands

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted by scientists at Shandong University of Science and Technology, in collaboration with other institutions, has revealed that wildfires played a significant role in regulating carbon accumulation in ancient peatlands. The study focused on the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in the high-latitude Junggar Basin, NW China, and found that frequent wildfires led to a decrease in carbon accumulation rates. The research team, led by Zhihui Zhang, analyzed natural gamma logging data and detected a strong negative correlation between carbon accumulation rates and inertinite abundance, indicating that frequent wildfires had a significant impact on peatland carbon burial.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study demonstrated that peatlands have been a vital terrestrial carbon reservoir on Earth since the Devonian period, serving as a precursor to coal and impacting the global carbon cycle and climate change.
  • The research team analyzed the No. B2 coal seam of the Middle Jurassic Xishanyao Formation in the high-latitude Junggar Basin, NW China, and found a sedimentation rate of 2.3 cm/kyr and a duration of 2.6 Myr for the coal seam.
  • Time series analysis of natural gamma logging data revealed a gradually decreasing carbon accumulation rate trend from the bottom to the top of the coal.
  • The high inertinite content in the coal exhibited typical charcoal characteristics, indicating frequent peatland wildfires.
  • Spectral analysis suggested that peatland carbon accumulation rates may be regulated by wildfire activity linked to 405-kyr orbital cycles.
  • The study offered novel insights into the influence of wildfire activity on organic carbon burial in the Middle Jurassic peatlands.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the journal Global and Planetary Change.

Statistics:

  • Sedimentation rate of 2.3 cm/kyr for the coal seam.
  • Duration of 2.6 Myr for the coal seam.
  • Carbon accumulation rates of 41.10-52.74 g C/m(2).a, showing a gradually decreasing trend from the bottom to the top of the coal.
  • Inertinite content of 33.43-36.76% in the coal seam.
  • Strong negative correlation between carbon accumulation rate and inertinite abundance (r = -0.85).

Sources:

  • Astronomically-forced Wildfire Control On High-latitude Peatland Carbon Accumulation Rate In the Middle Jurassic. Global and Planetary Change, 2025;253.
  • Global and Planetary Change can be contacted at: Elsevier, Radarweg 29, 1043 Nx Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  • Zhihui Zhang, Shandong University of Science and Technology, College of Earth Science & Engineering, Shandong Prov Key Lab Deposit Mineralizat & Sedime, Qingdao 266590, People's Republic of China.