Once upon a time biomass burning in the western Alps: Nesting effects of climate and local drivers on long-term subalpine fires

The present article questions the relative importance of local- and large-scale processes on long-term dynamics fire in subalpine belt western Alps. study is based soil charcoal dating identification, several sites contrasting environmental conditions, sampling along elevation gradient each site. Based local differences biomass combustion, we hypothesize that local-scale or landscape-scale have driven history, while combustion homogeneity supports hypothesis macro-ecological processes, especially climate. Biomass burning during Holocene resulted from nesting effects climate, land use, altitude, but was little influenced by slope exposure (north versus south), (dryness, pH, depth), vegetation. mid-Holocene (6500–2700 cal BP) an important period for climate-driven ecosystems Alps, fires over last 2500 years appear much more episodic, prompting us to speculate human activity has played a vital role their occurrence. Our working strength drivers should offset regional climate not validated. regime between thus underscores main driver Long-term are controlled at millennial scale. Local conditions matter determining variability century chief climatic zone, late suggesting social exercised key function control.