Geological control mechanisms of coal fires and associated loss mitigation from an earth system science perspective

Coal fires represent a widespread and persistentglobal geohazard, posing significant threats to energy security, environmental sustainability, and human health, while their formation and evolution remain insufficiently understood within an integrated Earth system framework. This study addresses the geological control mechanisms and integrated prevention of coal fire hazards from a global perspective, adopting Earth System Science as the overarching theoretical framework. It systematically elucidates the interactions between coal fires and multiple Earth system spheres, including lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. By synthesizing the controlling roles of key geological factors—such as coal rank and quality, geological structures, and hydrogeological conditions—on the initiation and evolution of coal fires, the formation mechanisms of coal fires under specific geological settings were clarified, along with their cross-sphere environmental impact pathways. The major challenges confronting current coal fire prevention and control efforts were critically examined, including insufficient characterization of geological conditions, difficulties in detecting concealed fire sources, complexity of multi-field coupling processes, limited accuracy in cross-sphere hazard and risk assessment, and inadequate coordination among integrated mitigation technologies. To overcome these challenges, five systematic pathways are proposed: multi-source data–driven geological transparent characterization, an integrated “space–air–ground–borehole” intelligent sensing system, cross-scale coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical–chemical numerical modeling, geology-driven multi-sphere hazard and risk assessment methods, and geologically adaptive synergistic prevention and control technologies. This study promotes a transition from fragmented, engineering-oriented coal fire mitigation toward Earth System Science–based, multi-sphere integrated regulation, providing theoretical foundation and technical support for next-generation coal fire prevention systems that ensure resource, mining, and ecological security.