Fire History in the Qinling Mountains of East-Central China Since the Last Glacial Maximum

The study of fire history and driving mechanisms at long time scales can provide a theoretical background for future fire management in forested regions. The alpine lake sediments from Daye Lake in the Qinling Mountains, east-central China, were used to explore the influence of climate, vegetation and human activity on fires since the LGM, based on charcoals and black carbon. During the last glacial period, fire activity was mostly controlled by regional aridity under a weak East Asian summer monsoon, while human-induced fires were commonly dominated in the late Holocene. Fire activity was found to be linked to biomass through temperature variability. The biofuel dominated by conifers induced high intensity fires in the last glacial, and herbs contributed more to the high fire frequency over the mid-late Holocene. With predicted future rising temperatures, increased vegetation cover and extreme climate events may increase the fire risk in the region.

Automated summary

The study of alpine lake sediments from Daye Lake in the Qinling Mountains, China, revealed the influence of climate, vegetation, and human activity on fire activity since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Fire activity during the LGM was mainly controlled by regional aridity and a weak East Asian summer monsoon, while human-induced fires dominated in the late Holocene. Fire activity was found to be linked to biomass through temperature variability, with conifers contributing to high-intensity fires in the last glacial period and herbs contributing to high fire frequency over the mid-late Holocene. With future rising temperatures, increased vegetation cover, and extreme climate events, the fire risk in the region may increase.