How do major fire events in Montana and elsewhere contribute to carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere?
Forest fire events in Montana and elsewhere do contribute carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. According to the state of Oregon, the 2002 Biscuit Fire there burned almost a half million acres and emitted about one-fourth of the state’s atmospheric carbon contribution that year. According to some estimates, worldwide burning of forested lands contributes about 1 billion metric tons of carbon into the atmosphere per year. This figure is comparatively small compared to the estimated 8 billion metric tons contributed per year through the burning of fossil fuels. Still, most climatologists and silviculturalists think forest fire carbon contributions are an important area of study. Recent studies compare post-fire regeneration and carbon storage capabilities of various tree species as they mature against the carbon dioxide loss of the original fire event.
