Dynamics of paleo-fires in the forest-steppe zone of the Western Siberia

Abstract

In this work we present the results of reconstruction of the dynamics of paleo-fires over the last 3300 cal. yr BP in the Barabinsk forest-steppe of the Western Siberia based on macrocharcoal analysis and radiocarbon dating of peat deposits of the Nikolaevsky ryam. The authors identified 18 local fire episodes using the CharAnalysis program. At the end of the Subboreal period, 6 local fires occurred, probably caused by dry and cold conditions. In the subAtlantic period of the Holocene, 12 fires were recorded with a peak of pyrogenic activity at 1200-1000 cal. yr BP. This peak of fires is probably associated with the warm and dry conditions of the Medieval Climate Optimum. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the intensity and frequency of paleo-fires in the area of Nikolaevsky ryam were influenced by climatic changes: in dry climatic periods, an increase in fire activity was observed.