I have noticed smoke coming out of pile of waste without igniting them with fire, and it got me thinking, what is the science behind the phenomenon?
In: Mathematics
I think there is a lot of speculation here. Compost does not spontaneously combust.
Microbes can not operate without moisture, and can not survive temps higher than 100 Celsius. Moisture does not exist past 100 Celsius either. Fire starts around 300 degrees. You still need a spark, and dry material, regardless of the act of composting.
I have composted at projects in the sub arctic, desert, and tropics, and have worked with hundreds more, none has ever experienced spontaneous combustion.
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