A publication in the December 2010 issue of International Journal of Wildland Fire summarizes the value and rationale behind global thresholds for peak identification, as well as and other analytical methods featured in CharAnalysis. See the reference below, and access directions for accessing this publication here: http://www.uidaho.edu/cnr/paleoecologylab/publications

Reference

Higuera, P.E., D.G. Gavin, P.J. Bartlein and D.J. Hallett. Peak detection in sediment-charcoal records: impacts of alternative data analysis methods on fire-history interpretations. International Journal of Wildland Fire 19: 996-1014.