Pyrogeography across the western Palaearctic: A diversity of fire regimes

Aim The aim was to characterize fire regimes and estimate regime parameters (area burnt, size, intensity, season, patchiness pyrodiversity) at broad spatial scales using remotely sensed individual-fire data. Location Western part of the Palaearctic realm (i.e., Europe, North Africa Near East). Time period 2001–2021. Methods Initially, I divided study area into eight large ecoregions based on their environment vegetation: Mediterranean, Arid, Atlantic, Mountains, Boreal, Steppes, Continental Tundra. Next, intersected each predefined ecoregion with data obtained from remote sensing hotspots for environment. This allowed me compute annual patchiness, recurrence pyrodiversity ecoregion. related those climate analysed temporal trends in size. Results Fire varied across different environments (ecoregions). Mediterranean had largest, most intense recurrent fires, but Steppes largest burnt area. Arid ecosystems extended Tundra patchiest Boreal forests earliest fires year. variability largely explained by vegetation, a tendency greater activity warmer ecoregions. There also become larger during last two decades, especially environments. Main conclusion characteristics are unique, In addition, have been increasing size recent decades.