Scholarly record
SELF-IGNITION OF PEATLANDS IN CENTRAL EUROPE - POSSIBILITY ASSESSMENT
Abstract
The results of laboratory studies concerning self-ignition in Central Europe are presented in this paper. There are known cases of self-ignition of peatlands in Indonesia and tropical regions of Africa, as well as in Southern Europe (for example in Italy and Spain). Therefore, there is a possibility that this phenomenon could also occur in Central Europe due to a climate warming. The laboratory studies, using adiabatic calorimeters, were carried out to assess the tendency of peat to self-ignition. The main aim of this studies was to determine the limit values of peat moisture content and content of inorganic matter at which self-ignition is possible. It was found that lowering the peat moisture content below 30% and heating it up to 40°C enables the start of self-ignition process. The climate changes, causing the constant growth of average temperature of Earth's surface, heat waves and long-lasting droughts, can lead to partial drying of peat bogs and increase in peat's temperature and therefore promotes self-ignition.
Publication Impact Profile
Publication details
References12
Onifade M., Genc B., Spontaneous combustion of coals and coal-shales, International Journal of Mining Science and Technology, vol. 28, pp 933-940, 2018.
Day S., Bainbridge N., Carras J., Lilley W., Roberts C., Saghafi A., Williams D., Causes and controlling factors of self-heating, Coal and peat fires: A global perspective. Volume 3: Case Studies – Coal Fires, Elsevier Science, pp 1-36, 2015.
Półka M., Analysis of susceptibility of peat on its spontaneous heating and self-ignition properties, Fire and Environmental Safety Engineering 2018, MATEC Web of Conferences, vol. 247, 2018.
Wacławik J., Cygankiewicz J., Branny M., Niektóre zagadnienia pożarów endogenicznych, Biblioteka Szkoły Eksploatacji Podziemnej, Poland, 2000, pp 5- 30.
Armstrong J., Spontaneous combustion of forest fuels: a review, Canadian Forestry Service, Forest Fire Research Institute, Canada, pp 1-14, 1973.
Filkov A., Leroy-Cancellieri V., Cancellieri D., Gladky D., Simeoni A., Modeling peat-fire hazards: From drying to smoldering, Italian peat and coal fires, Coal and peat fires: A global perspective. Volume 4: Peat – geology, combustion and case studies, Elsevier Science, pp 90-120, 2015.
Martinelli G., Cremonini S., Samonati E., Stracher G. B., Italian peat and coal fires, Coal and peat fires: A global perspective. Volume 4: Peat – geology, combustion and case studies, Elsevier Science, pp 40-73, 2015.
Beever P. F., Spontaneous combustion, Building Research Establishment Information Paper, vol. 6, 1982.
Hanninen K. I., A chemical mechanism for self-ignition in a peat stack, Environmental and Ecology Research, vol. 5/ issue 1, pp 6-12, 2017.
Restuccia F., Huang X., Rein G., Self ignition of natural fuels: Can wildfires of carbon-rich soil start by self-heating?, Fire Safety Journal, vol. 91, pp 828-834, 2017.
Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change, Global warming of 1,5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emissions pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty. Summary for policymakers, IPPC, Switzerland, pp 6-13, 2018.
Hogg E. H., Lieffers V. J., Wein R. W., Potential carbon losses from peat profiles: effects of temperature, drought cycles and fire, Ecological Applications, vol. 2/ issue 3, pp 298-306, 1992.
View or Download full articleAccess options
SWS access login
Login as SWS Scientific CommitteeLogin as SWS Scientific PartnerLogin as SWS AuthorAuthors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.
For librarian assistance: [email protected]
Purchase Instant Access
- Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
- Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
- Article cannot be redistributed.
