Average Annual Carbon Consumed by Fire (1971-2000) for the Apache-Sitgreaves study area, Arizona, USA

This map represents the mean annual value of carbon in biomass consumed by fire, simulated by the model MC1 for the 30-year period 1971-2000.  The data is from output variable CONSUMED in MC1 version B60.  The data is in units of grams of carbon per square meter; values range from 0 to 980 g C m-2 yr-1


The vegetation model MC1 (e.g. Bachelet et al. 2001) was used to simulate vegetation dynamics, associated carbon and nitrogen cycle, water budget, and wild fire impacts at two study sites in eastern Oregon (Deschutes and Fremont-Winema National Forests) and in Arizona (Apache Sitgreaves National Forest area) in the context of a project funded by the USDA Forest Service (PNW 09-JV-11261900-003). Historical climate input data used to run the model were provided by the PRISM group (Chris Daly, OSU) at a 30arc second (800m) spatial grain. The model was also run using future climate change projections from various general circulation models including CSIRO Mk3 and MIROC 3.2 medres. Future climate change climate datasets were generated through statistical downscaling from general circulation model output using a simple anomaly method and the climatology (1971-2000) from the PRISM group at 30arc second spatial grain.  The model was run assuming that nitrogen demand from the plants was always met so that the nitrogen concentrations in various plant parts never dropped below their minimum reported values. A CO2 enhancement effect increased productivity and water use efficiency as the atmospheric CO2 concentration increased.