In the Arctic, fires are increasing and contributing to the vicious cycle of climate change

ENVIRONMENT – A hellish cycle for the climate. The Arctic, already at the forefront of global warming, now emits more carbon dioxide (CO2) than it stores, as revealed this Tuesday, December 10 by an American study published by the Atmospheric Observation Agency and American Oceanic Ocean (NOAA). This is because of more and more numerous fires, which contribute to global warming after having already been a direct consequence of it.

This new reference report highlights a major source of concern for the future of our planet since the Arctic tundra can no longer play ” its important role in the global climate system », as an immense underground reservoir of carbon. The region, which includes the North Pole, is in fact a victim of global warming and its direct consequences, with the increase in fires as direct proof of a problematic reversal.

This is what Rick Spinrad, the head of the American agency which publishes this report, explains. “The Arctic tundra, which is experiencing warming and an increase in forest fires, now emits more carbon than it stores”he says. Enough to accentuate a very worrying vicious circle, which we will explain to you.

An accelerated thaw

The Arctic is partly made up of tundra, an ecological environment made up of low vegetation and permafrost, also called permafrost. Frozen ground that contains double the amount of CO2 present in the atmosphere and triple what has been emitted by human activities since 1850…

Except that in recent decades, under the effect of global warming, tundra fires have continued to increase and even reached a record in 2023, notes NOAA. The record fire season in Canada in 2023 has, for example, led to the issuance of “nearly 400 million tons of carbon dioxide”points out Brendan Rogers, co-author of the report. Either “more than the annual emissions of all other countries except China, the United States, India and Russia”.

By burning vegetation, these fires release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. But they also alter the soil’s insulating layers, accelerating the long-term thawing of permafrost, which results in additional emissions of carbon dioxide and methane, two of the main heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere.

In summary, global warming causes more fires. These same fires then contribute directly to global warming since they prevent this fragile ecological environment from absorbing CO2 in sufficient quantities. Worse still: the latter is released in large quantities into the atmosphere with the increase in tundra fires.

An amplification of « l’amplification »

The fact that the Arctic now emits more carbon than it stores “will worsen the effects of climate change”warns Rick Spinrad. “One more sign predicted by scientists of the consequences of inadequately reducing fossil fuel pollution.”

Knowing that the year 2024 comes in second place in terms of emissions linked to fires occurring north of the Arctic Circle, the report takes the opportunity to highlight the so-called phenomenon of« amplification » which affects the Arctic. Clearly, this part of the globe is warming more than the mid-latitudes. This phenomenon is due to many factors, such as the loss of snow cover and sea ice, or even the warming of the oceans. Rising temperatures may boost productivity and plant growth, but they also cause permafrost to thaw.

The report therefore points to a “ alarming warning sign » according to Brenda Ekwurzel, climatologist from the American NGO Union of Concerned Scientists. Because “once reached, many of these thresholds of negative impacts on ecosystems are irreversible”she warns. “Permafrost emissions are not going to surpass emissions from fossil fuels, but they are an important layer, so they need to be taken into account”Brendan Rogers ends up pointing out with concern.

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