Global Charcoal Database: Readme file ----------------------------------------------------------------------- World Data Center for Paleoclimatology ----------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: PLEASE CITE ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTORS AND THE CLIMATE DYNAMICS PAPER LISTED BELOW WHEN USING THIS DATA!!!!! Contents: I. I. Global Charcoal Database Version 3 II. Global Charcoal Database Version 1 I. Global Charcoal Database Version 3 Background: The Global Charcoal Database (version 3.0) is a Microsoft Access database containing the complete set of site, sample, dating and charcoal data as well as metadata, such as contact and publication information, that was used in the paper: Marlon, J.R., et al., 2015: Reconstructions of biomass burning from sediment charcoal records to improve data-model comparisons. A description of the data is contained in this paper, and the complete citation is listed below. These data are provided as-is. In some cases, data may be missing or may differ from originally published data due to database entry, import and conversion methods. These data were compiled by the Global Palaeofire Working Group (GPWG) (paleofire@gmail.com, http://paleofire.org/). Please see their website for additional information on the development of the GPWG and the history of the database. This version of the Global Charcoal Database (GCD) Version 3, supersedes the GCD Version 1 database. Data Access: The data are provided in a Microsoft Access database format. The data archived here were last updated August, 2016. Online resource: www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/20042 Online resource: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/firehistory/charcoal/gcd/GCD3_PUBLIC_VERSION_2013_01-Oct-2013.mdb Full Citation: J. R. Marlon, R. Kelly, A.-L. Daniau, B. Vannière, M. J. Power, P. Bartlein, P. Higuera, O. Blarquez, S. Brewer, T. Brücher, A. Feurdean, G. Gil-Romera, V. Iglesias, S. Y. Maezumi, B. Magi, C. J. C. Mustaphi, and T. Zhihai. 2016. Reconstructions of biomass burning from sediment charcoal records to improve data-model comparisons. Biogeosciences. doi: doi:10.5194/bgd-12-18571-2015 ONLINE RESOURCE (When Citing Data): https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/20042 SUMMARY/ABSTRACT: The location, timing, spatial extent, and frequency of wildfires are changing rapidly in many parts of the world, producing substantial impacts on ecosystems, people, and potentially climate. Paleofire records based on charcoal accumulation in sediments enable modern changes in biomass burning to be considered in their long-term context. Paleofire records also provide insights into the causes and impacts of past wildfires and emissions when analyzed in conjunction with other paleoenvironmental data and with fire models. Here we present new 1000 year and 22 000 year trends and gridded biomass burning reconstructions based on the Global Charcoal Database version 3, which includes 736 charcoal records (57 more than in version 2). The new gridded reconstructions reveal the spatial patterns underlying the temporal trends in the data, allowing insights into likely controls on biomass burning at regional to global scales. In the most recent few decades, biomass burning has sharply increased in both hemispheres, but especially in the north, where charcoal fluxes are now higher than at any other time during the past 22 000 years. We also discuss methodological issues relevant to data-model comparisons, and identify areas for future research. Spatially gridded versions of the global dataset from GCDv3 are provided to facilitate comparison with and validation of global fire simulations. II. Global Charcoal Database Version 1.0 Background The Global Charcoal Database (version 1.0) is a Microsoft Access database containing the complete set of site, sample, dating and charcoal data as well as metadata, such as contact and publication information, that was used in the paper "Changes in fire regimes since the Last Glacial Maximum: an assessment based on a global synthesis and analysis of charcoal data" published in Climate Dynamics. A description of the data is contained in this paper, and the complete citation is listed below. These data are provided as-is. In some cases, data may be missing or may differ from originally published data due to database entry, import and conversion methods. These data were compiled by the Global Palaeofire Working Group (GPWG) (paleofire@gmail.com, http://paleofire.org/). Please see their website for additional information on the development of the GPWG and the history of the database. Data Access: The data are provided in a Microsoft Access database format. The data archived here were last updated October 18, 2007. Online resource: www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/study/6073 Online resource: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/firehistory/charcoal/gcd/GCDv1_n405.mdb To contribute data to the Global Charcoal Database, please contact Mitch Power. Abbreviated Citation: Power, M.J., Marlon, J., et al., in press: Changes in fire regimes since the Last Glacial Maximum: an assessment based on a global synthesis and analysis of charcoal data, Climate Dynamics, [DOI 10.1007/s00382-007-0334-x]. Full Citation: Power, M.J.,, Marlon, J., Bartlein, P.J., Harrison, S.P., Mayle, F.E., Ballouche, A., Bradshaw, R., Carcaillet, C., Cordova, C., Mooney, S., Moreno, P., Prentice, I.C., Thonicke, K., Tinner, W., Whitlock, C., Zhang, Y., Zhao, Y., Anderson, R.S., Beer, R., Behling, H., Briles, C., Brown, K.J., Brunelle A., Bush, M., Camill, P., Chu, G.Q., Clark, J., Colombaroli, D., Connor, S., Daniels, M., Daniau, A.-L., Dodson, J., Doughty, E., Edwards, M.E., Fisinger, W., Foster, D., Frechette J., Gaillard, M.-J., Gil-Romera, G. Gavin, D.G., Gobet, E., Haberle, S., Hallett, D.J., Higuera, P., Hope, G., Horn, S., Impagliazzo, S., Inoue, J., Kaltenrieder, P., Kennedy, L., Kong, Z.C., Larsen, C., Long, C.J., Lynch, J., Lynch, B., McGlone, M., Meeks, S., Mensing, S., Meyer, G., Minckley, T., Mohr, J, Nelson, D., New, J., Newnham, R., Noti, R., Oswald, W., Pierce, J., Richard, P.J.H., Rowe, C., Sanchez Go i, M.F., Shuman, B.J., Takahara, H., Toney, J., Turney, C.., Umbanhower, C., Vandergoes, M., Vanniere, B., Vescovi, E., Walsh, M., Wang, X., Williams, N., Wilmshurst, J., Zhang , J.H., in press: Changes in fire regimes since the Last Glacial Maximum: an assessment based on a global synthesis and analysis of charcoal data, Climate Dynamics, [DOI 10.1007/s00382-007-0334-x].