Theory 36/Grassland & Savanna/Carbon emissions
Fire Emissions Balance Decomposition
The claim
Savanna carbon emissions are set by the ratio of fire to decomposition, so fire-prone systems emit more than decomposition alone would predict.
01Mechanism
Both pathways release carbon; the ratio determines the partitioning, and fire releases it faster and more completely.
02Prediction
Emissions should track the ratio.
03Refutation
Emissions tracking productivity would remove the partitioning.