Story perspectives

Study Reveals Wildfires Release More Carbon Than Expected

2/28/2026

Summary

Story summary

A study from the University of California, Berkeley finds wildfires in northern boreal forests (Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia) may release more carbon than thought by burning peat soils and ancient carbon.
The research, published in Science Advances, shows models underestimate emissions from low-intensity fires that smolder underground, based on 324 Swedish wildfires.
Researchers plan to apply these findings to Western United States forests to improve understanding of wildfire carbon dynamics.

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Story summary

A study from the University of California, Berkeley finds wildfires in northern boreal forests (Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia, Russia) may release more carbon than thought by burning peat soils and ancient carbon.
The research, published in Science Advances, shows models underestimate emissions from low-intensity fires that smolder underground, based on 324 Swedish wildfires.
Researchers plan to apply these findings to Western United States forests to improve understanding of wildfire carbon dynamics.