A new study released by the Canadian Journal of Forest Research March 22, estimated change in woody carbon pools as a function of crown fire severity as indicated by a post-fire index, years since fire, pre-fire woody carbon, forest type group (hardwood vs. softwood), elevation, and climate attributes.
California Post-Fire Study
Canadian and US researchers examined the dynamics of above ground forest woody carbon pools — live trees, standing dead trees, and down wood — during the first 6 years following wildfire across a wide range of conditions.
Their analysis relied on 130 US national forest inventory plots measured before and 1 year after re, with one additional remeasurement within 6 years after fire. There was no evidence of net change in total wood carbon, defined for this study as the wood in standing trees larger than 12.7 cm diameter at breast height and down wood larger than 7.6 cm in diameter, over the post-fire period in any of the three severity classes.