BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence M.J. Gerrevink METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20261008T154500 DTEND:20261008T171500 DTSTAMP:20261008T154500 UID:phd-defence-m-j-gerrevink@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260924T205149 LOCATION:Main building VU, 1105, Aula, De Boelelaan, 1081 HV, Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence M.J. Gerrevink X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

The influence of for est fires on climate: Advancing measurements of fire severity and lon g-term climate impacts of boreal fires

The climat e balance of forest fires: northern fires are not simple climate ampl ifiers

I investigated how the severity of forest fires can be better measured with satellite images and how these fires affe ct the climate over decades. I show that the climate impact varies gr eatly from region to region: fires in Alaska cause warming on average , while fires in many parts of Canada actually have a cooling effect due to longer-lasting snow cover after the fire. However, climate cha nge is reducing this cooling effect, so that future forest fires incr easingly contribute to additional warming.

Great varia tions from area to area

My research shows that the in fluence of northern forest fires on the climate is much more complex than 'fires cause warming'. I show that the consequences can last for decades and vary greatly from area to area. Fires in Alaska cause ad ditional warming on average, mainly because they emit a relatively la rge amount of carbon from vegetation and frozen soils. In many parts of Canada, fires are currently having a cooling effect, because the d ark burnt ground remains covered longer in winter with a clear snow c over that reflects more sunlight.

However, this cooling effect is decreasing due to climate change: warmer winters mean less and sh orter snow cover. As a result, the balance is shifting and northern f orest fires will increasingly contribute to further warming of the cl imate in the future.

Targeted measures

The results of m y research help better understand the role of ever-increasing forest fires in a changing climate. This knowledge is important for nature m anagers, policymakers and climate researchers who have to make decisi ons about fire prevention, forest management and climate adaptation i n northern areas. By knowing the conditions under which fires are lik ely to have a strong warming effect, for example in areas with high c arbon-rich soils and permafrost, measures can be used in a more targe ted way.

More information on the thesis.

DESCRIPTION: The influence of forest fires on climate: Advancing measu rements of fire severity and long-term climate impacts of boreal fire s

The climate balance of forest fires: northern fires are not simple climate amplifiers

Northern forests, such as the vast boreal forests of Canada and Alaska, are increasingly exper iencing large wildfires due to climate change. These fires affect not only ecosystems and the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere , but also the climate itself. At the same time, it is not yet suffic iently clear whether forest fires mainly contribute to warming or to temporary cooling in the long term.I investigated how the severity of forest fires can be better measured with satellite images and how th ese fires affect the climate over decades. I show that the climate im pact varies greatly from region to region: fires in Alaska cause warm ing on average, while fires in many parts of Canada actually have a c ooling effect due to longer-lasting snow cover after the fire. Howeve r, climate change is reducing this cooling effect, so that future for est fires increasingly contribute to additional warming.

G reat variations from area to area

My research shows that the influence of northern forest fires on the climate is much more c omplex than 'fires cause warming'. I show that the consequences can l ast for decades and vary greatly from area to area. Fires in Alaska c ause additional warming on average, mainly because they emit a relati vely large amount of carbon from vegetation and frozen soils. In many parts of Canada, fires are currently having a cooling effect, becaus e the dark burnt ground remains covered longer in winter with a clear snow cover that reflects more sunlight.

However, this cooling effect is decreasing due to climate change: warmer winters mean less and shorter snow cover. As a result, the balance is shifting and nor thern forest fires will increasingly contribute to further warming of the climate in the future.