Landscape fires are a major source of greenhouse gases and other atmospheric constituents. Most global inventories of landscape fire emissions have converged at around 2 petagram of carbon (Pg C) y−1 since satellite information on burned areas became available in the early 2000s. These emission estimates are known to be uncertain, and studies using satellite measurements of column carbon monoxide or aerosol optical depth found that emissions from regional fire complexes often exceed estimates from global inventories. Here we describe the development of the fifth version of the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED5), which incorporates new information on burned area, improved modelling of fuel loadings, and new emission factors. GFED5 total global landscape fire carbon emissions are 3.4 Pg C y−1 (2002–2022 average) and closer in line with atmospheric constraints for several key fire events than its predecessor GFED4s. This new landscape fire emission dataset advances and extends the record needed to improve dynamic fire models and interpret the burden, impacts, growth rates, and variability of atmospheric trace gases and aerosols.
Landscape fire emissions from the 5th version of the Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED5)