Cochrane Mark A
Center for Global Change and Earth Observations, Michigan State University, 1405 S. Harrison Road, Room 101, East Lansing, Michigan 48823-5243, USA.
Nature. 2003 Feb 27;421(6926):913-9. doi: 10.1038/nature01437.
Forest fires are growing in size and frequency across the tropics. Continually eroding fragmented forest edges, they are unintended ecological disturbances that transcend deforestation to degrade vast regions of standing forest, diminishing ecosystem services and the economic potential of these natural resources. Affecting the health of millions, net forest fire emissions may have released carbon equivalent to 41% of worldwide fossil fuel use in 1997-98. Episodically more severe during El Niño events, pan-tropical forest fires will increase as more damaged, less fire-resistant, forests cover the landscape. Here I discuss the current state of tropical fire science and make recommendations for advancement.
热带地区森林火灾的规模和发生频率正在不断增加。这些火灾持续侵蚀着支离破碎的森林边缘，是意外的生态干扰，其影响范围超越了森林砍伐，导致大片现存森林退化，生态系统服务功能受损，这些自然资源的经济潜力也随之降低。森林火灾影响着数百万人的健康，在1997 - 1998年期间，森林火灾净排放量释放的碳量可能相当于全球化石燃料使用量的41%。在厄尔尼诺事件期间，热带地区森林火灾会周期性地变得更加严重，随着更多受损且耐火性较差的森林覆盖这片土地，泛热带森林火灾将会增加。在此，我将探讨热带火灾科学的现状并提出推进建议。
