Forest fire occurrences have nearly doubled in recent years.
Forest fires around the world are escalating, causing extreme damage to ecosystems and boosting the risk of blazes. An examination of numerous satellite images demonstrates that catastrophic megafires have drastically increased in the past 20 years, as compared to previous times. These intense fires generate colossal amounts of CO2 and slaughter billions of creatures.
The occurrence and severity of major forest fires on Earth have roughly doubled from 2003 to 2023, with the six most extreme years taking place since 2017, except for 2022. According to a research team in the journal "Nature Ecology & Evolution", the most intense forest fires were reported in 2023, the hottest year since record-keeping began. Climate change is intensifying conditions that lead to forest fires in various locations, particularly through prolonged periods of drought.
Several vacation destinations in Southern Europe are worried that this summer might bring another devastating forest and brushfire. In Greece, during a heatwave, there were nearly fires per minute. In the preceding year, hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest and brushland were scorched in Southern Europe, resulting in several human fatalities and countless animal deaths.
Groundbreaking Australian Fires in 2019 and 2020
The forest fires in Australia in the years 2019 and 2020, often referred to as the "Black Summer Bushfires", were record-breaking in terms of size and intensity, as stated by researchers from the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia. "These fiercely intense fires released astronomical amounts of carbon dioxide and smoke, destroying an estimated 2.8 billion vertebrate animals and negatively impacting the entire geographical range of 116 plant species." Extreme forest fires became headlines in subsequent years, such as in Canada.
The researchers analyzed more than 88 million satellite images and the thermal energy of close to 31 million fire incidents. They identified 2913 extreme forest fires, which were mainly found in North America, Siberia, and Australia. Other notable hotspots were South America and southern Africa.
More Droughts due to Climate Change
Models indicate that forests in the Northern Hemisphere are primarily responsible for the escalating trend. The number of extreme forest fires in temperate coniferous forests increased approximately elevenfold, from 6 in 2003 to 67 in 2023. In the boreal forests of North America, Europe, and Russia, the number increased by more than sevenfold. The researchers link this to longer periods of drought caused by climate change.
Across the globe, the number of extreme forest fires in the study period increased from roughly 100 to over 200 per year, as indicated. The thermal energy of the 20 largest forest fires per year rose from around 60,000 Megawatts to nearly 120,000 Megawatts. The damages amount to billions, and there are numerous casualties among humans and in the animal and plant kingdoms.
The increasing frequency and damage from extreme forest fire events align with global warming and emphasize the need for immediate adaptation to a climate that encourages such fires, according to the study authors.
Read also:
- The increase in extreme forest fires is often linked to global warming and climate change, leading to prolonged periods of drought and higher risks of wildfires.
- The devastating forest fires in Australia during 2019 and 2020, known as the "Black Summer Bushfires," were record-breaking in terms of size and intensity, contributing significantly to global warming and causing widespread damage to ecosystems and wildlife.
- Education and awareness-raising efforts are crucial in combating the impacts of climate change, as extreme weather events, including forest fires, become more frequent and severe, leading to unprecedented destruction of forests, wildlife, and habitats worldwide.
