Impact of Forest Fires on Melting of Permafrost in Peatlands.
The GE image below shows This is an example of a 1930 fire which burned part of a large peatplateau complex. After the burn black spruce regenerated naturally and no increased melting was observed in 1974. Even in 2004 this Google Earth image shows that permafrost still exists with a similar distribution as in the non burned area. Melting has continued at a steady pace.. Fire records in this area do not show significant fires in the last 15 years. A few very small areas can be found (see recent small burn), bit the immediate impact of those cannot be assessed. GE resolution is not adequate for that in this area. Although fire generally did not have an impact of acceleration of melting rates, one particular small peatplateau totally collapsed after a burn in 1965.

This picture below was taken 1970 from helicopter. It shows the area burned in previous image. The area B was not burned in 1930, the area A is also a part of a stand which survived the fire. The regeneration is primarily Black Spruce, with an occasional bright dots of White Birch. The light colored collapse areas around the edge and in the centre are quite distinct.

Typical fire regeneration on permafrost peatplateaus in this area, trees are 30-40 years old. The peat auger in this picture is in the permafrost which starts at about 50 cm or 2 ft below the surface. (late August).

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