The interactions between wildfires, bamboo and aerosols in the south-western Amazon: A conceptual model

Abstract

Wildfires, bamboo and aerosols are becoming topics of research interest in the south-western Amazon because their impact on local ecosystems may influence the future climate on Earth. Their interaction is particularly important because it can self-amplify, potentially leading to unexpected consequences such as a decrease in carbon storage capacity due to the dominance of bamboo ecosystems after fire. This article synthesizes the discrete pieces of knowledge on each of these components to develop a conceptual model of wildfires–bamboo–aerosols relationships and to identify future research agendas. The interaction between wildfires and bamboo is controversial because the answer to whether bamboo significantly enhances the probability of wildfire events remains elusive. However, the ongoing deforestation of the Amazon is a possible trigger for increased interactions between wildfires and bamboo. A positive feedback likely exists in an area where aerosols produced by wildfires induce subsequent wildfires. Aerosols can form an oversupply of cloud condensation nuclei, which delays rainfall. Alternatively, they can absorb solar radiation and cool the Earth’s surface, which suppresses cloud formation. Little research has been conducted on the relationship between bamboo and aerosols in the Amazon. However, there is some indirect evidence that bamboo can be a significant producer of aerosols, which then affect wildfires by changing rainfall patterns. Our integrative approach will help to identify the triangular relationship between wildfires, bamboo and aerosols.