IARC/JAXA Terrestrial Team Workshop - February 22, 2006

The fires of June, July and August 2004 in east central Alaska and adjacent western Yukon Territory were historic in terms of magnitude, intensity and in the very rapid development and spread of fire. Record-setting weather conditions of extreme heat and high winds created the burning conditions. This was the highest year in recorded history in the amount of land burned by wildfire in one season in Alaska. To a very large extent, it was also very severe in terms of the amount of organic soil consumed by the fire. The public, resource managers, and resource users in Alaska and Yukon will live with the legacy of these fires for decades to come. These fires also present an opportunity for scientific research in that there were extensive fires along the road system, allowing unprecedented access for repeat measurements and monitoring of recovery. Several important issues associated with the effects of the Alaska fires of 2004 need research attention. These include questions of how fire impacts and recovery will change with a changing climate. How will these fires affect permafrost degradation and subsequent erosion and sedimentation. Will the trajectories of vegetation recovery change? This workshop examined these questions and many others.