Obiettivo The objective of Project FILE (Fire Interactions with Life on Earth) is to investigate the likely effects of predicted climate change on forest fire activity. Models predict a 44% increase in forest fires annually in America with a 61% increase in Canada, whilst fire seasons in boreal, temperate and Mediterranean regions will be prolonged in response to global warming. However, most predictions are based on outputs from numerical models and observed links between global warming and fire activity are essential for assessing future fire risk. This research will provide such sorely needed data by studying periods of past climate change in Earth history. Project FILE will focus on 3 key warming events: the mid-Pliocene (~3.3 million years ago (Ma)), the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (~55 Ma) and the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary (~200 Ma). Relationships between global warming and fire activity will be examined by: (1) compiling records of ancient fire activity using fossil charcoal abundance; (2) linking fire activity to records of vegetation change across these events; (3) assessing changes in vegetation for their flammable properties. The size, shape, density and connectivity of fossil leaves will be quantified, as these characters are known to control flammability. Modern analogues of the ancient plants will be subject to combustion experiments using state-of-the-art fire propagation apparatus. These experiments will test for differences in flammability between ecologically dominant plants, and will be undertaken in both modern and ancient atmospheric gas compositions. Project FILE will provide data that address key concerns in the European Climate Change Programme II: Impacts and Adaptation, and The European Commission’s April 2009 policy paper on “Adapting to Climate Change”. It targets the research goals of FP7’s “Environment” category and aims to help the EU cope with the effects of climate change and the associated sustainable environmental management demands. Campo scientifico humanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes Programma(i) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Argomento(i) FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF - Marie Curie Action: "Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development" Invito a presentare proposte FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF Vedi altri progetti per questo bando Meccanismo di finanziamento MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Coordinatore THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER Contributo UE € 171 740,80 Indirizzo THE QUEEN'S DRIVE NORTHCOTE HOUSE EX4 4QJ Exeter Regno Unito Mostra sulla mappa Regione South West (England) Devon Devon CC Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contatto amministrativo Samantha Irish (Ms.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato Partecipanti (1) Classifica in ordine alfabetico Classifica per Contributo UE Espandi tutto Riduci tutto THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH Partecipazione conclusa Regno Unito Contributo UE Nessun dato Indirizzo OLD COLLEGE, SOUTH BRIDGE EH8 9YL Edinburgh Mostra sulla mappa Regione Scotland Eastern Scotland Edinburgh Tipo di attività Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contatto amministrativo Angela Noble (Ms.) Collegamenti Contatta l’organizzazione Opens in new window Sito web Opens in new window Costo totale Nessun dato