Fire is widespread in nature. It played a central role in moulding many modern ecosystems.Fire history can be reconstructed from such record as element carbon preserved in sediments, which can be quantified by microscope and chemical oxidation. Chemical techniques for the isolation of element carbon enerally involve the dissolution of carbonates and silicates by HCl-HF acid attack, followed by oxidation of contaminating organic matter to leave a residue composed of element carbon. Several studies of fire history in lake, ice core and marine sediments suggest that fire has exerted influences on vegetation patterns as well as regional climate, and the resulting gaseous and particulate emissions have affected the atmospheric chemistry.