Geophysical processes and biosphere: article

Аnnotation: The wildland fires are the major cause of forest death in Siberia as well as one of the main ecological factors forming biodiversity. In the paper we present the impact of surface wildfires on Northern Eurasian boreal ecosystems on the example of main tree species in the Near-Yenisey Siberia. The wildfire impact in study area is determined by an average annual burn rate of 0.20±0.05 %. In the extremely dry summer of 2012 this value increased up to 19 %. The integral fire radiative power through the season reached 4.1·105 MW/km2 whereas average annual value did not exceed 0.64·105 MW/km2. Our observations demonstrate a highly variable effect of surface fires on coniferous species in Siberia. One year after moderate severity surface fires only trees with DBH > 5 cm survived. After high severity (usually steady) surface fires only pine trees with DBH > 17.2 cm survived, while trees with DBH > 18.1 cm were the most resistant within further post-fire succession.