Linking tree-ring and sediment-charcoal records to reconstruct fire occurrence and area burned in subalpine forests of Yellowstone National Park, USA

Researchers have successfully reconstructed fire occurrence and area burned in subalpine forests of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) using sediment-charcoal records, providing a robust method for understanding historical fire regimes. By calibrating charcoal accumulation from four lakes with tree-ring-based fire data, they found that charcoal peaks accurately reflected local fires within 1.2–3.0 km, while total charcoal correlated best with broader area burned (6.0–51 km). A statistical model developed from composite charcoal records explained 64–79% of variability in area burned from AD 1675 to 1960, showing significant increases during extreme drought periods and at ~60-year timescales, aligning with precipitation reconstructions. The study also revealed that post-fire stand development increased fuel abundance, influencing fire spread. Widespread burning (>10,000 ha) occurred every 150–300 years, suggesting future fire regimes in YNP will depend on both climate and vegetation dynamics.

Higuera, P. E., Whitlock, C., & Gage, J. A. (2010). Linking tree-ring and sediment-charcoal records to reconstruct fire occurrence and area burned in subalpine forests of Yellowstone National Park, USA. The Holocene, 21(2), 327–341. https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683610374882