Pyrogeography: Fire in the Earth System

GEOG32012 Pyrogeography: Fire in the Earth System 20 Semester 2 Undergraduate Level 3 Gareth Clay Unit coordinator Geography 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 Wildfires are a major agent of change on the planet and have been for millions of years. Wildfires are a natural component of many landscapes maintaining the health and vitality of ecosystems. However, extreme wildfires are becoming more frequent (e.g. e.g. Black Saturday Bush Fires, Australia 2009; Fort McMurray, Canada, 2016; Portuguese wildfires 2017; Brazil forest fires 2020; California 2025) and many can be found close to human habitation in the wildland-urban interface. This then poses a challenge for those working with wildfire – how do we balance the competing tensions between humans, ecosystems and natural processes?In this module, we will explore pyrogeography as the comprehensive study of the physical and cultural parameters of fire. We will see how fire plays its role in maintaining ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors determine the nature and behaviour of fire, and how these aspects of fire ecology interact with human decisions in order to understand current fire management strategies.   Wildfires are a major agent of change on the planet and have been for millions of years. Wildfires are a natural component of many landscapes maintaining the health and vitality of ecosystems. However, extreme wildfires are becoming more frequent (e.g. e.g. Black Saturday Bush Fires, Australia 2009; Fort McMurray, Canada, 2016; Portuguese wildfires 2017; Brazil forest fires 2020; California 2025) and many can be found close to human habitation in the wildland-urban interface. This then poses a challenge for those working with wildfire – how do we balance the competing tensions between humans, ecosystems and natural processes?In this module, we will explore pyrogeography as the comprehensive study of the physical and cultural parameters of fire. We will see how fire plays its role in maintaining ecosystems, how biotic and abiotic factors determine the nature and behaviour of fire, and how these aspects of fire ecology interact with human decisions in order to understand current fire management strategies.   <ul> <li>introduce the ideas of pyrogeography (past, present and future distribution of wildfire) and fire ecology (fire effects on ecosystems, how ecosystems themselves influenced fire activity, and the role of fire as an ecosystem process).</li> <li>investigate the different types of fire and their differing ecosystem effects.</li> <li>consider the challenges associated with managing wildfires.</li> <li>reflect on the debates around the use of prescribed fire as a management tool, both globally and in the UK.</li></ul> <ul> <li>Evaluate different environmental impacts of fire and explore trade-offs across different temporal and spatial scales.</li> <li>Describe ecosystem management debates with regards to fire management.</li> <li>Explain the latest advances in wildfire management.</li></ul> <ul> <li>Critically evaluate contrasting and complementary scientific theories.</li> <li>Develop arguments based on the latest academic and non-academic literature.</li></ul> <ul> <li>Demonstrate their skills in data collation, evaluation and synthesis.</li> <li>Source the latest information on wildfire science at global, regional and local levels.</li></ul> <ul> <li>Communicate technical information to a range of audiences.</li></ul> The course comprises 10 weeks of 2-hour lecture sessions and associated seminars/practicals, with two study weeks, and broken into three thematic sections:i) Introduction: Fire behaviourSection 1: Fire in the Earth System ii) Geological history of fire iii) Fire and climateSection 2: Fire and the Biosphere iv) Spatial and temporal patterns of fire v) Plants, fauna and fire vi) Fire as an ecosystem processSection 3: Anthropogenic fire vii) Fire behaviour and danger ratings viii) Fire and land management ix) Fire, the media and communicationx) Summary lecture   The course is delivered through a series of 2-hour lectures and 1-hour seminars/practical sessions. Students will be expected to complete assigned readings between lectures and undertake the support activities indicated for each class. A high level of attendance is expected and will help ensure that you possess basic knowledge on which to build for the course assessment. If you are unable to attend classes, please let the course leader know beforehand as it does make a difference to how we run some activities.Across the module, a range of methods will be used including lecture-style sessions with student discussion and activities, seminars, practical sessions and discussion exercises. The sessions will be supported by online material, directed reading, and practical assignments, which will all be available via the Canvas site. You will need to be prepared to engage with all material provided, as well as demonstrate wider reading around the course. Online teaching tools via Canvas may also form part of the teaching and learning delivery.    0 Other 100% Formative Assessment Task: One page ‘letter to editor’Length: 1-page maxFeedback:  provided in 15 working days via Canvas.Summative Assessment Task:  (1)  Coursework review paperLength:  1500 wordsFeedback:  provided in 15 working days via Canvas and before the exam period. Weighting: 50%(2)  End of module examLength:  2 hours Feedback on exams:  available via course lead or SEED administration.Weighting:  50%   Y There is no core text for this course, but the following are useful general texts for the module. Fire science textbooks (all available as e-books via the Library website)Belcher, C.M. (2013) Fire Phenomena and the Earth System: An Interdisciplinary Guide to Fire Science. Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester. Available as an e-book via the Library website. Scott, A.C., Bowman, D. M.J.S., Bond, W.J., Pyne, S., Alexander, M.E. (2014) Fire on Earth - an Introduction. Wiley-Blackwell: Chichester. Available as an e-book via the Library website.Scott, A.C. (2018) Burning Planet: The Story of Fire through Time Oxford University Press: Oxford.Key Journals: Science; Nature; International Journal of Wildland Fire; Fire Ecology; Journal of Ecology; Biogeochemistry; Science of the Total Environment; Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences; Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society - B.    Lectures 20 Seminars 10 0 170