The phenomenon occurs in several steps. Firstly, mechanical disturbance such as windthrow, bark beetle outbreaks, or logging creates standing deadwood or uprooted trees. Secondly, the exposed biomass begins to decompose through microbial activity, releasing carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Thirdly, the decomposed material can alter the microclimate of the forest floor and influence soil respiration rates. In wet or water‑logged sites, the rapid conversion of fresh biomass into biogenic methane can create flares of emissions that are markedly higher than in drier conditions.
Rikkikasvupäästöt are an important consideration in national greenhouse‑gas inventory protocols. Many countries require that emissions from deadwood and forest disturbances be calculated using empirical equations or process‑based models. In Finland, for instance, the Ministry of Environment mandates that forest regrowth, litterfall and deadwood decomposition be recorded as part of the national GHG accounting framework. The data generated help to refine carbon‑budget models and improve the accuracy of climate projections.
The term is also used in the literature on forest fire ecology. Post‑burn vegetation often experiences rapid growth and subsequent breakage, which can produce a “flare‑up” of emissions that is characterized as rikkikasvupäästöt. Researchers compare these emissions with those from unfired stands to assess the full life‑cycle carbon costs of fire suppression and prescribed burn practices.
In practice, measurements of rikkikasvupäästöt involve soil chambers, eddy covariance towers, and biochemical assays that quantify the flux of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O. Recording these emissions is vital for developers, foresters and policymakers seeking to manage forests under climate change mitigation scenarios.