Ancient Wildfires Locked Inside Coal Reveal Major Clues About Earth’s Climate Evolution

Ancient Wildfires Locked Inside Coal Reveal Major Clues About Earth’s Climate Evolution

By Suman Munshi with inputs from PIB Delhi

Kolkata/New Delhi, May 25, 2026: Scientists have uncovered molecular evidence of massive wildfires that swept across ancient Gondwana forests nearly 250 million years ago, offering new insights into Earth’s prehistoric climate systems, vegetation patterns and coal-forming environments. The findings could significantly improve understanding of long-term climate change and the environmental impact of extreme wildfire events.

The breakthrough study was carried out by researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. The research focused on Permian-era coal-bearing sediments from the Godavari Valley Coalfield in India and has been published in the journal Geological Journal.

Researchers discovered preserved molecular traces of ancient palaeowildfires within Gondwana coal deposits, revealing how intense fire activity influenced prehistoric ecosystems during the Permian period. Earlier palaeofire studies in India had already identified macrocharcoal evidence from Permian sediments, providing the first large-scale indications of wildfire activity in ancient Gondwana forests. However, scientists faced major challenges in accurately distinguishing between different forms of microscopic charcoal particles.

Traditional studies relied heavily on microscopic observations, which often created ambiguity regarding whether charcoal particles were produced naturally through oxidation or formed directly by wildfire activity. The lack of molecular-level analytical techniques had limited a deeper understanding of ancient fire regimes.

To overcome this challenge, the BSIP research team adopted a novel multi-proxy scientific approach integrating palynofacies analysis — the study of microscopic organic matter preserved in sedimentary rocks — with advanced molecular technologies such as Raman Spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy.

The study was conducted by researchers Neha Aggarwal, Shivalee Srivastava and Runcie Paul Mathews, who successfully bridged the gap between visual identification of palaeofire residues and their geochemical characterization.

One of the major outcomes of the research was the successful identification and distinction between high-intensity and low-intensity wildfire-derived microcharcoal particles based on their morphology, optical characteristics and preservation state.

Scientists also identified molecular signatures associated with combustion processes, including well-developed Raman spectral features linked to Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and diagnostic FTIR signatures indicating thermal alteration pathways. These findings strengthened the accuracy of identifying fire-induced organic matter preserved in ancient coal deposits.

According to researchers, the integrated spectroscopic and palynological approach provides a more reliable reconstruction of ancient wildfire regimes during the Permian era and offers valuable insights into how prehistoric ecosystems responded to climate stress and extreme fire events.

The findings are expected to help scientists create more accurate long-term climate models by reconstructing the palaeoenvironment of Gondwana basins. Researchers believe the study may also improve understanding of how modern ecosystems could behave under increasing wildfire risks linked to global climate change.

The research further highlights India’s growing contribution to global palaeoclimate and Earth history studies through advanced geoscientific and molecular research methodologies.

Publication link: https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.70295

Published by IBG NEWS