New Method Uncovers Secrets of Ancient Wildfires

Scientists in Scotland have unveiled a groundbreaking technique to analyse charcoal, shedding light on wildfires that scorched the Earth millions of years ago. This innovative method, developed by geoscientists at the University of Aberdeen and fire engineers at the University of Edinburgh, promises to enhance our understanding of wildfires during both past and present climate shifts.

The research, published in the journal Scientific Reports, reveals that this technique can trace wildfire behaviour back to the earliest evidence of fire, dating back 420 million years. With the alarming rise in wildfire activity globally, particularly in vulnerable wetland ecosystems, this new insight is timely. Recent wildfires in California, which ravaged over 18,000 homes, highlight the growing intensity and duration of fire seasons, a trend linked to climate change. Understanding the history of wildfires is crucial, as they have shaped ecosystems throughout geological history, especially during periods of extreme climate change.

The team employed advanced laser technology, known as Raman spectroscopy, to analyse charcoals created in controlled wildfire experiments. This marks the first time researchers have calculated wildfire energy release from charcoal chemistry, allowing for a deeper understanding of natural fuel mixes and wildfire reconstructions across ages.

Dr. Thomas Theurer from the University of Aberdeen stated, “We can study changes in ancient plant life, climate, and fire preserved in rock, helping us grasp the drivers of intense fire activity in the past.” His colleague, Dr. Dmitri Mauquoy, emphasized that traditional methods of estimating ancient fire temperatures may not provide a complete picture. “Our method quantifies energy release from wildfires using charcoal remains, making it a non-destructive and universal approach.”

This new method offers insights into how past fire activity has evolved with climate change, independent of human influence. Professor Rory Hadden from the University of Edinburgh noted the importance of this research in predicting future fire activity and its potential impacts on global ecosystems and communities.

As charcoal is a common by-product of fire, the possibilities for applying this method extend beyond wildfire studies. It could benefit fields like archaeology, forensic investigations, and fire safety science, opening new avenues for understanding fire’s role in our world.