<p>You can now easily adjust access to your voice recordings and images within Forest Watcher reports. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this, please refer to our <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/forest-watcher/guides/managing-access-to-voice-recordings-and-images-in-reports-on-forest-watcher-web/">new tutorial</a>.</p>


Manage Media Access in Forest Watcher Web Reports

Forest Insights

Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

fires

fires | Global Forest Watch Blog

forest change

forest change | Global Forest Watch Blog

James MacCarthy

Jessica Richter

Sasha Tyukavina

Mikaela Weisse

Nancy Harris

The Latest Data Confirms: Forest Fires Are Getting Worse

The latest data on forest fires confirms: Fires are becoming more widespread, burning nearly twice as much tree cover today as 20 years ago.

The Latest Data Confirms: Forest Fires Are Getting Worse | GFW Blog

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Paige Johnson

Tree cover loss due to fires visualized on the GFW map, 2001-2021

Data &amp; Tools

Data &amp; Tools | Global Forest Watch Blog

<p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsen.2022.825190/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The latest data</a> from the University of Maryland (UMD), available on Global Forest Watch (GFW), provides a detailed view of how fires have driven tree cover loss across the globe through 2023. The <a href="https://gfw.global/3d5Ri2B">tree cover loss from fires data</a> offers insights on <a href="https://gfw.global/3Kdqn1n" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">trends in fire-driven loss since 2001</a> at a higher resolution than other global burned area data sets. Read on to learn what the data measures, how we can use it and how it differs from other fire-related data on GFW.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Latest Insights Into Trends of Fire-Driven Tree Cover Loss</h2>



<p>The tree cover loss from fires data builds on the existing <a href="https://research.wri.org/gfr/latest-analysis-deforestation-trends" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">annual tree cover loss data</a> from UMD by providing additional context on where fires are driving loss. Each 30-m pixel in the annual tree cover loss data is analyzed using Landsat satellite images to determine whether the loss was likely due to stand-replacing fires (which kill all or most living trees). This data allows fire-driven loss to be separated from all other drivers of tree cover loss, like agriculture and forestry. Using this data, detailed patterns of tree cover loss due to fires can be assessed over a 23-year period (2001-2023) using a globally consistent definition of fire-driven forest loss.</p>



<p>For this data, loss due to fires is defined as natural or human-ignited fires that result in direct loss of tree canopy cover. This could include wildfires, and intentionally set fires (including escaped fires started by humans for purposes related to agriculture, hunting, recreation or arson). Instances where trees are felled and later burned are not included since the initial driver of loss in that case is mechanical removal. Low-intensity and understory forest fires that do not result in substantial tree canopy loss at the scale of a 30-m pixel are also excluded from this definition.&nbsp;</p>



<p>This data is updated on an annual basis and allows us to better understand global, regional and local trends in tree cover loss as they evolve over time.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="tree cover loss due to fires 2001-2023" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2024-Fires-Final-GIF-W-TITLE-1-1.gif" width="100%"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Can We Use the Tree Cover Loss from Fires Data?</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Identifying Areas with the Most Tree Cover Loss Due to Fires</em></h3>



<p>Users can use this data to visualize and analyze the spatial distribution of loss due to fires over time on GFW. For example, the global dashboard can help users identify countries with the most tree cover loss due to fires in the previous year.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="315" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://gfw-staging-pr-4976.herokuapp.com/embed/widget/treeLossFires/global"></iframe>



<p></p>



<p>Looking at the list, Canada, Russia, and Brazil had the most tree cover loss due to fires in 2023. After analyzing the downloaded data, we can see that these three countries combined lost nearly 10.6 million hectares or 89% of all fire-related loss in 2023.</p>



<p>We can then view how fire activity has changed over time for these areas. For example, in 2023, Canada experienced the largest area of tree cover loss the country has seen in 23 years, 91% of which was due to fires.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="530" frameborder="0" src="https://gfw-staging-pr-4976.herokuapp.com/embed/widget/treeLossFiresAnnual/country/CAN"></iframe>



<p></p>



<p>Users can also use the GFW map to visualize when and where these fires occurred and select specific years to dig deeper into the data. For instance, looking at the map, it is clear that most of Canada’s fires in 2023 occurred across the western provinces and Quebec.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="670" height="490" frameborder="0" src="https://gfw-staging-pr-4976.herokuapp.com/embed/map/?map=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%3D"></iframe



<p></p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Separating Trends in Fire-Related Tree Cover Loss from Other Drivers</em></h3>



<p>In some cases, this data set can also provide insights into trends of forest loss that are <em>not</em> due to fires. Since loss from fires tends to vary significantly year to year depending on climate and other conditions, it can obscure the longer-term trend in tree cover loss from other drivers.</p>



<p>For example, the annual tree cover loss data on primary forest loss in Brazil shows a large spike in 2016 and 2017 that is not captured by the official deforestation monitoring system for the Brazilian Amazon, PRODES. Using the tree cover loss due to fires data, we can see that much of that spike was due to loss from fires, which are typically <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-research/2021-tree-cover-loss-data-explained/">not captured by the PRODES system</a>. Understanding where fire drives forest loss and where it does not helps provide more nuance when interpreting the data and allows more direct comparisons with other data sources.</p>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-photo-slider" data-src="visualisation/10921476?163031"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What are the Limitations for Using this Data?</h2>



<p>In a <a href="https://globalforestwatch.org/blog/data-and-research/tree-cover-loss-satellite-data-trend-analysis/">previous blog</a>, we describe changes to the tree cover loss data since 2001 and recommend caution for comparing trends before and after 2015. This data on fires builds on that tree cover loss data set, so the same cautions apply. While the changes to the tree cover loss data have resulted in improved detection of forest loss in recent years, including better detection of fires in the boreal forests and other regions, it has also introduced inconsistencies over time.</p>



<p>Despite these inconsistencies, the data features high levels of <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsen.2022.825190/full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">spatial and temporal accuracy</a> at the global level (assessed for 2001-2019). Globally, 90% of areas classified as tree cover loss due to fires were classified correctly; the other 10% were false positives.</p>



<p>Spatial accuracy varied by region but remained relatively high for most regions. Europe and North America had the highest levels of accuracy with false positive rates of 7% and 4%, respectively. Africa had the lowest accuracy and the highest number of false positives, with 39% of the area labeled as tree cover loss due to fires incorrectly classified. The high false positive rate in Africa is likely because forest fires there are relatively rare.&nbsp;</p>



<table>
  <tbody><tr>
    <th>Region</th>
    <th>False Positive Rate</th>
  </tr>
 <tr>
    <td>North America</td>
    <td>4%</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Europe</td>
    <td>7%</td>
  </tr>
 <tr>
    <td>Latin America</td>
    <td>26%</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>Southeast Asia</td>
    <td>27%</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td>Africa</td>
    <td>39%</td>
  </tr>
<tr>
    <td><strong>Global</strong></td>
    <td><strong>10%</strong></td>
  </tr>
</tbody></table>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" width="100%">False positive rates assessed across 2001-2019 within tree cover greater than 0%.</div>



<p>There are also cases where there are delays in detecting tree cover loss due to fires, where the loss occurs close to the end of the year but there aren’t enough clear satellite images to detect it until the following year. This is important to note because sometimes spikes we see in loss due to fires can reflect trends from the previous year. Overall, 96% of all fire-related loss events between 2001 and 2019 occurred within one year of the mapped loss date.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Other Fire Data is on GFW, and What’s Different About the Tree Cover Loss from Fire Data?</h2>



<p>The fire data available on GFW falls into two categories: fire activity data and contextual data. <em>Fire activity data</em> allows users to view ongoing fires and analyze the extent of fires in areas of interest, such as a country or user-defined polygon. <em>Contextual data</em> can be used to supplement the fire activity data and help users understand what areas are at risk of fire and the impacts of fire on air quality.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">Comparison of GFW Fire Data</h4>



<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td rowspan="4" style="width:150px;">
			<p align="left" style="margin-left:1pt;"><strong>Fire Activity</strong></p>

			<p align="center" style="margin-left:1pt;">&nbsp;</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center"><strong>Data Set</strong></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center"><strong>Resolution</strong></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center"><strong>Data Source</strong></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center"><strong>Update Frequency</strong></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center"><strong>Date Range</strong></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center"><strong>Best Use</strong></p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>Tree Cover Loss from Fires</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">30m</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">UMD/GLAD</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Annual</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">2001-2023</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>Calculating extent of stand-replacing forest fires</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>VIIRS Fire Alerts</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">375m</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">NASA</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Twice daily</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">2012-Present</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>Detecting fire locations in near-real-time (day/night)</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>MODIS Fire Alerts*</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">500m</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">NASA</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Twice daily</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">2000-Present</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>Detecting fire locations in near-real-time (day)</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td rowspan="2" style="width:150px;">
			<p align="left" style="margin-left:1pt;"><strong>Contextual</strong></p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Global Fire Weather Index</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">10km</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">NASA</p>

			<p align="center">GFWED</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Daily</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Present</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>Current fire risk</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Global Air Quality Index</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">n/a</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">World Air Quality Index</p>

			<p align="center">US EPA</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Every 15 minutes</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p align="center">Present</p>
			</td>
			<td style="width:150px;">
			<p>Fire-related effects on air pollution</p>

			<p>&nbsp;</p>

			<p>&nbsp;</p>
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" width="100%">*The Terra satellite that carries the MODIS sensor will be decommissioned next year, along with associated products including the MODIS near-real-time alerts and burned areas data set. VIIRS will continue to be the main source of near-real-time fire alerts.</div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Fire Activity Data</em></h3>



<p><strong>Tree Cover Loss from Fires Data</strong></p>



<p>The tree cover loss from fires data differs from other fire activity data on the GFW platform because it focuses solely on stand-replacing forest fires, while other fire data sets do not make a distinction between stand-replacing fires and other fires. This is important because forests act as <a href="https://gfw.global/3JWxECg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">carbon sinks</a> and contain most of the land-based carbon on the planet, which is released when they burn.&nbsp;</p>



<p>The tree cover loss from fire data also tracks fires at a much finer resolution than the other fire activity data such as <a href="https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/data/dataprod/mod45.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MODIS burned areas</a>; however, it is also updated less frequently, making it less useful for monitoring ongoing or very recent fire activity.</p>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-photo-slider" data-src="visualisation/10857448?163031"><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p><strong>Other Fire Activity Data</strong></p>



<p><strong>Near-real-time alerts (MODIS and VIIRS):<em> </em></strong>MODIS* and VIIRS active fire alerts provide users with near-real-time data that is updated daily and can be used to monitor and respond to ongoing fires. The alerts can detect varying fire sizes depending on the fire temperature, time of day and presence of cloud cover or heavy haze. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Users can analyze fire activity data on the GFW <a href="https://gfw.global/3SmpoiN" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">map</a> and <a href="https://gfw.global/3ozQGoe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dashboard</a>, and filter the data to only view fires that occur in primary forests or other areas of conservation importance. Signing up for a myGFW account also gives users the option to create and analyze custom areas of interest. Users can also stay up to date on fire activity in their custom areas by <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/map/guides/save-area-subscribe-forest-change-notifications/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">subscribing to notifications</a> through their myGFW account.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><em>Contextual Data</em></h3>



<ul>
<li><strong>Fire risk (Global Fire Weather Index):</strong> The Global Fire Weather Index can be used to identify areas where climate conditions make landscapes more vulnerable to fires, allowing users to understand the current risk of burning.&nbsp;</li>



<li><strong>Health impacts (Global Air Quality Index):</strong> The Global Air Quality Index measures current air quality of particulate matter which is strongly impacted by smoke and haze from fires. With over 15,000 stations worldwide, this helps users measure the risk of health effects related to air pollution. &nbsp;</li>
</ul>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="670" height="490" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/map/?map=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%3D&mapMenu=eyJkYXRhc2V0Q2F0ZWdvcnkiOiJmb3Jlc3RDaGFuZ2UifQ%3D%3D"></iframe>



<p></p>



<p>The tree cover loss from fires data is a valuable data set in the suite of fire-related data on GFW and enables all users to better track the impact of fires on forests worldwide to develop more effective management responses.</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 

To explore fire data on GFW, visit the <a href="https://gfw.global/3SmpoiN" rel="noopener noreferrer">map</a> and <a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/global/?category=fires&location=WyJnbG9iYWwiXQ%3D%3D&map=eyJkYXRhc2V0cyI6W119&showMap=true" rel="noopener noreferrer">dashboard</a>.
<br><br>
<a href="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/help/map/webinars/using-global-forest-watch-to-explore-active-fires-and-trends/?utm_campaign=treecoverlossfires2022&utm_medium=bitly&utm_source=WRIInsights" rel="noopener noreferrer">View a webinar</a> in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Bahasa Indonesia to learn more about tree cover loss from fires and other fire-related data on Global Forest Watch. <p><p>
This piece was originally published in 2022. It was updated in August 2024 to reflect the latest developments with the tree cover loss due to fires data.
 

</div> 

 

<hr>



<style type="text/css"></style>



<p></p>

Over Two Decades of Fire-Driven Loss in Exceptional Detail

Detalhes excepcionais de mais de duas décadas de perda causada por incêndios

Détails exceptionnels sur plus de deux décennies de pertes causées par des incendies

Lebih Dari Dua Dekade Kehilangan Akibat Kebakaran Dilihat dalam Perincian yang Menakjubkan

Tree cover loss from fires data offers a higher-resolution look than ever before at trends in fire-driven loss over more than two decades.

carbon

carbon | Global Forest Watch Blog

Canada’s Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation

Canada's Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation

Canada’s 2023 wildfires burned 7.8 Mha of forests, emitting 3 billion tons of carbon, 25% more than from all tropical primary forest loss combined in 2023.

Canada's Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

Canada&#8217;s Record-breaking 2023 Wildfires Released Nearly 4 Times More Carbon than Global Aviation

logging

logging | Global Forest Watch Blog

policy

policy | Global Forest Watch Blog

Sarah Carter

4 Growing Threats to Europe’s Forests: Logging, Bioenergy, Wildfires and Pests

This year's tree cover loss data shows that Europe’s forests face increasing pressures including logging, wildfires, insect outbreaks and wood harvesting to meet changing energy demands.

4 Growing Threats to Europe’s Forests: Logging, Bioenergy, Wildfires and Pests | Forest Insights | Global Forest Watch Blog

Thailynn Munroe

Kelly Levin

<p>Fires blazing across the Western United States have claimed dozens of lives, destroyed countless properties, displaced hundreds of thousands of residents, and worsened air quality at a time when the coronavirus pandemic threatens respiratory health. The ominous skies are a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/climate/hurricane-isaias-apple-fire-climate.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preview</a> of what’s to come in a world of continued inaction on climate change. What was seemingly a distant future is now playing out in front of our eyes. </p>



<p>Wildfires in the Western United States, and around the world, are <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/chapter-3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">getting worse</a>. Fires in Oregon, Washington and California for the last month are off the charts compared to previous years — and fire season is still not over.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/burnedAreaCumulative/country/USA/5?burnedAreaCumulative=eyJjb21wYXJlWWVhciI6ImFsbCJ9"></iframe>



<div class="attribute"> 
Cumulative fire alerts in California.
Visit the Global Forest Watch dashboard to see alerts for <a href="https://gfw.global/2Ruj9v9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Washington</a> and <a href="https://gfw.global/3c7ZKKa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oregon</a>. 

</div>



<p>But what’s more troubling is that fires are not growing in isolation. Fires are just one piece of a multi-part climate feedback system — all parts of which are worsening, fueling more rapid <a href="https://gfw.global/3msEseP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>. </p>



<p>Increased global emissions lead to higher temperatures, which then create drier, more fire-prone conditions. With more fires comes more emissions, perpetuating the entire cycle.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Fires and climate change form a feedback loop" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fires-emissions-climate-feedback-loop-wri.png" width="100%"></div>



<p>The data show that each aspect of this cycle is getting worse:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Temperatures on the U.S. west coast have risen by 1.5-2 degrees F since the beginning of the 20th century</h3>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3745113" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3745113/embed" aria-label=""><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>Temperatures in California, Washington and Oregon have increased noticeably since the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/wa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington</a> state has been 1.5 degrees F warmer on average, and <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/or/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon</a> and <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California</a> have seen temperatures that are 2 degrees F higher. At the same time, rain has increasingly replaced snow in the <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/24/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwest</a>, warmer temperatures have reduced snowpack, and <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6488/314.full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soils are drying out</a>. All of these factors combine to create drier conditions that allow wildfires to ignite and spread.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The U.S west coast is on track to surpass annual burned area records</h3>



<div class="imagecenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="burned area on the US west coast 2000-2020" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fires-us-cumulative-burned-area-2020-wri.gif" width="100%">Cumulative burned area, 2000-2020. Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).</div>



<p>The western U.S. wildfire season has lengthened by about three days per year <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2015.0178#RSTB20150178F3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">since the 1970s</a> due to rising temperatures and snow melting earlier in the season. Elevated temperatures dry out vegetation, which then acts as a tinderbox for fires. Despite the risks wildfires pose to homes and lives, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/115/13/3314" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">housing growth</a> in once sparsely settled areas near forests and other vegetation has also increased rapidly, leading to more wildfires from human-caused ignitions and more loss of property.</p>



<p>Whether ignited by human activity or lightning strikes, there’s a greater likelihood of fires burning out of control. As these conditions worsen, the overall burned area expands.</p>



<p>Burned area has increased across the United States over the past two decades, and 2020 is particularly bad. The West Coast is <a href="https://grist.org/climate/how-apocalyptic-this-california-western-fire-season-is-in-1-flaming-chart/?utm_campaign=sprout&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_content=1599793155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on track to see more area burned in 2020 than any other year.</a> In California alone, wildfires have already destroyed an area almost the size of the state of Connecticut (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/14/us/california-wildfires-monday/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3.2 million acres</a>). </p>



<p>The <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most recent science</a> suggests that with further warming, the Western United States could see 2 to 6 times the annual area burned in 2050 than it does today.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emissions from 2020’s fires are 3 times higher than usual</h3>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3737206" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3737206/embed" aria-label=""><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>As fires burn, carbon stored in trees and other vegetation combusts, releasing carbon dioxide and other potent greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. This means that as fires increase, so do emissions. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Fire-related emissions in 2020 are already 3 times higher than the historical 21<sup>st</sup>-century average in California, Oregon and Washington, and we are by no means at the end of fire season. In California, the worst days of wildfires have generated emissions that are roughly 4 to 8 times higher than the average daily <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-inventory-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> from all economic activity across the state.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emissions contribute to global temperature rise, accelerating the vicious climate feedback loop</h3>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3745423" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3745423/embed" aria-label=""><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>While emissions from fires contribute to the warming that begins this vicious cycle, they are far from the only source of carbon dioxide emissions. Burning fossil fuels — for example to power our homes and our cars — is the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leading source</a> of emissions globally.</p>



<p>Not too long ago, the idea of surpassing 400 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide, a&nbsp;symbolic threshold which Earth has not experienced for millions of years, felt quite far off. By 2019, CO2 concentrations were well beyond the 400 ppm threshold, reaching <a href="https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/data.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">411 ppm</a>. (For context,&nbsp;pre-industrial concentrations&nbsp;of carbon dioxide were <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">280 ppm</a>). </p>



<p>This buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is rapidly warming the planet. 2019 was the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146154/2019-was-the-second-warmest-year-on-record" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-warmest</a> since modern record-keeping began, after 2016. The past decade was the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146154/2019-was-the-second-warmest-year-on-record" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warmest on record</a>, with each decade warmer than the one that preceded it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Curbing climate change, reducing fire risk</h3>



<p>With proper management, fire regimes are a natural and important part of maintaining the long-term vitality of forests across the Western United States. However, we need to be smarter about where we build and rebuild our communities. New housing is increasingly moving closer to forests and other natural vegetation, leading to more wildfires from human-caused ignitions and greater losses to human lives and property. A tiny spark now has potential to cascade into a raging fire, fueled by higher temperatures, drier conditions and rising emissions. </p>



<p>But more importantly, we need to rein in greenhouse gas emissions. If we want to put an end to these record-breaking fires, it’s critical we address the climate feedbacks that are fueling them in the first place.</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 

Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/us-fires-climate-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
 

</div> 

 

<hr>



<style type="text/css"></style>



<p></p>

6 Graphics Explain the Climate Feedback Loop Fueling US Fires

<p>Fires blazing across the Western United States have claimed dozens of lives, destroyed countless properties, displaced hundreds of thousands of residents, and worsened air quality at a time when the coronavirus pandemic threatens respiratory health. The ominous skies are a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/04/climate/hurricane-isaias-apple-fire-climate.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">preview</a> of what’s to come in a world of continued inaction on climate change. What was seemingly a distant future is now playing out in front of our eyes. </p>



<p>Wildfires in the Western United States, and around the world, are <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/chapter/chapter-3/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">getting worse</a>. Fires in Oregon, Washington and California for the last month are off the charts compared to previous years — and fire season is still not over.</p>



<iframe width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/burnedAreaCumulative/country/USA/5?burnedAreaCumulative=eyJjb21wYXJlWWVhciI6ImFsbCJ9"></iframe>



<div class="attribute"> 
Cumulative fire alerts in California.
Visit the Global Forest Watch dashboard to see alerts for <a href="https://gfw.global/2Ruj9v9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Washington</a> and <a href="https://gfw.global/3c7ZKKa" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Oregon</a>. 

</div>



<p>But what’s more troubling is that fires are not growing in isolation. Fires are just one piece of a multi-part climate feedback system — all parts of which are worsening, fueling more rapid <a href="https://gfw.global/3msEseP" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">climate change</a>. </p>



<p>Increased global emissions lead to higher temperatures, which then create drier, more fire-prone conditions. With more fires comes more emissions, perpetuating the entire cycle.</p>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="Fires and climate change form a feedback loop" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fires-emissions-climate-feedback-loop-wri.png" width="100%"></div>



<p>The data show that each aspect of this cycle is getting worse:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Temperatures on the U.S. west coast have risen by 1.5-2 degrees F since the beginning of the 20th century</h3>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3745113" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3745113/embed" aria-label=""><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>Temperatures in California, Washington and Oregon have increased noticeably since the beginning of the 20<sup>th</sup> century. <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/wa/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Washington</a> state has been 1.5 degrees F warmer on average, and <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/or/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Oregon</a> and <a href="https://statesummaries.ncics.org/chapter/ca/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">California</a> have seen temperatures that are 2 degrees F higher. At the same time, rain has increasingly replaced snow in the <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/24/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Northwest</a>, warmer temperatures have reduced snowpack, and <a href="https://science.sciencemag.org/content/368/6488/314.full" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">soils are drying out</a>. All of these factors combine to create drier conditions that allow wildfires to ignite and spread.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The U.S west coast is on track to surpass annual burned area records</h3>



<div class="imagecenter"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="burned area on the US west coast 2000-2020" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/fires-us-cumulative-burned-area-2020-wri.gif" width="100%">Cumulative burned area, 2000-2020. Source: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC).</div>



<p>The western U.S. wildfire season has lengthened by about three days per year <a href="https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2015.0178#RSTB20150178F3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">since the 1970s</a> due to rising temperatures and snow melting earlier in the season. Elevated temperatures dry out vegetation, which then acts as a tinderbox for fires. Despite the risks wildfires pose to homes and lives, <a href="https://www.pnas.org/content/115/13/3314" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">housing growth</a> in once sparsely settled areas near forests and other vegetation has also increased rapidly, leading to more wildfires from human-caused ignitions and more loss of property.</p>



<p>Whether ignited by human activity or lightning strikes, there’s a greater likelihood of fires burning out of control. As these conditions worsen, the overall burned area expands.</p>



<p>Burned area has increased across the United States over the past two decades, and 2020 is particularly bad. The West Coast is <a href="https://grist.org/climate/how-apocalyptic-this-california-western-fire-season-is-in-1-flaming-chart/?utm_campaign=sprout&amp;utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_content=1599793155" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">on track to see more area burned in 2020 than any other year.</a> In California alone, wildfires have already destroyed an area almost the size of the state of Connecticut (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/14/us/california-wildfires-monday/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3.2 million acres</a>). </p>



<p>The <a href="https://nca2018.globalchange.gov/chapter/6/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">most recent science</a> suggests that with further warming, the Western United States could see 2 to 6 times the annual area burned in 2050 than it does today.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emissions from 2020’s fires are 3 times higher than usual</h3>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3737206" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3737206/embed" aria-label=""><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>As fires burn, carbon stored in trees and other vegetation combusts, releasing carbon dioxide and other potent greenhouse gases such as methane and nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. This means that as fires increase, so do emissions. &nbsp;</p>



<p>Fire-related emissions in 2020 are already 3 times higher than the historical 21<sup>st</sup>-century average in California, Oregon and Washington, and we are by no means at the end of fire season. In California, the worst days of wildfires have generated emissions that are roughly 4 to 8 times higher than the average daily <a href="https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/ghg-inventory-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">emissions</a> from all economic activity across the state.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Emissions contribute to global temperature rise, accelerating the vicious climate feedback loop</h3>



<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/3745423" data-url="https://flo.uri.sh/visualisation/3745423/embed" aria-label=""><script src="https://public.flourish.studio/resources/embed.js"></script></div>



<p>While emissions from fires contribute to the warming that begins this vicious cycle, they are far from the only source of carbon dioxide emissions. Burning fossil fuels — for example to power our homes and our cars — is the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">leading source</a> of emissions globally.</p>



<p>Not too long ago, the idea of surpassing 400 parts per million (ppm) of carbon dioxide, a&nbsp;symbolic threshold which Earth has not experienced for millions of years, felt quite far off. By 2019, CO2 concentrations were well beyond the 400 ppm threshold, reaching <a href="https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/data.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">411 ppm</a>. (For context,&nbsp;pre-industrial concentrations&nbsp;of carbon dioxide were <a href="https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">280 ppm</a>). </p>



<p>This buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is rapidly warming the planet. 2019 was the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146154/2019-was-the-second-warmest-year-on-record" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">second-warmest</a> since modern record-keeping began, after 2016. The past decade was the <a href="https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/146154/2019-was-the-second-warmest-year-on-record" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">warmest on record</a>, with each decade warmer than the one that preceded it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Curbing climate change, reducing fire risk</h3>



<p>With proper management, fire regimes are a natural and important part of maintaining the long-term vitality of forests across the Western United States. However, we need to be smarter about where we build and rebuild our communities. New housing is increasingly moving closer to forests and other natural vegetation, leading to more wildfires from human-caused ignitions and greater losses to human lives and property. A tiny spark now has potential to cascade into a raging fire, fueled by higher temperatures, drier conditions and rising emissions. </p>



<p>But more importantly, we need to rein in greenhouse gas emissions. If we want to put an end to these record-breaking fires, it’s critical we address the climate feedbacks that are fueling them in the first place.</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”=""> 

Originally appeared on <a href="https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/us-fires-climate-emissions" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WRI Insights</a>. 
 

</div> 

 

<hr>





<p></p>

Increased emissions lead to higher temperatures and more fire-prone conditions. More fires mean more emissions, fueling rapid climate change.

2020 US Fires and the Climate Feedback Loop | Global Forest Watch Blog

https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/3dc298e411f65b199fc3734919d6934e?s=96&d=mm&r=g

Sarah Ruiz

satellite view of fires in southern california

Katie Lyons

<p>Smoke and haze should never be mixed with a respiratory disease, but as we enter the 2020 dry season, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic threatens to overlap with a potentially intense fire season— adding pressure on emergency response systems already stretched thin.</p>



<p>Monitoring fires and tracking fire trends will be more important than ever this year. NASA’s daily fires alerts, derived from satellite data, are now available on the Global Forest Watch (GFW) dashboards, making it easy to track active fires, compare fire seasons across the last two decades and assess their impact on forests and protected lands around the world.</p>



<p>Here are four questions the fires data on GFW can help answer:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Where are fires burning?</strong></h3>



<p>GFW allows users to pinpoint where fires are actively burning. Fire alerts from the past three months are displayed on the GFW map in clusters, with darker reds indicating a higher concentration of alerts.</p>



<p>Users can select any 3-month date range extending back to 2012 to view specific historical fires as well. The Australian wildfires from the end of 2019, for example, have a distinct signature in the data.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="670" height="490" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/map/country/AUS/5/?mainMap=eyJoaWRlTGVnZW5kIjp0cnVlLCJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWV9&map=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&menu=eyJkYXRhc2V0Q2F0ZWdvcnkiOiJsYW5kQ292ZXIiLCJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6IiJ9"></iframe>



<p>The GFW dashboard can also provide analysis of where the most significant number of fires have been burning over the past four weeks, allowing users to quickly focus on the areas of highest concern.</p>



<p>In Brazil, relaxed measures against forest clearing have already resulted in increased fires in recent years, and the pandemic has heightened concerns of unchecked destruction this year. Earlier this year Brazil’s National Institute for Space and Research (INPE) <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.treeslab.org/uploads/4/6/5/4/465490/nt_desmatamento_fogo_e_covid-19_na_amazonia_-_circulacao.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">called for immediate fire prevention actions</a>, citing “demand for hospitalizations due to respiratory problems induced by fires increases concomitantly with the COVID-19 pandemic, a worsening and possible collapse of public health is expected in several states, including those belonging to the Brazilian Amazon.” Fires are persisting, despite <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/fires-in-the-pantanal-we-are-facing-a-scenario-now-that-is-catastrophic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a 120-day ban</a> on burning imposed last month.</p>



<p>Using the significant fires visualization, which shows how current fires compare statistically to the historical average, we can see which Brazilian states are currently experiencing higher than usual levels of fire— a sign of where air pollution from active fires has the greatest potential to exacerbate the impacts of the pandemic.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/burnedAreaRanked/country/BRA"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Are we in peak fire season?</strong></h3>



<p>When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States, the US Forest Service <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-wildfires/trump-administration-halts-wildfire-prevention-tool-in-california-over-coronavirus-idUSKCN21X1HD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suspended controlled burns</a> across several western states, and many routine <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfiretraining" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fire prevention projects</a> had to be cancelled or postponed as officials worried at the ability of firefighters to maintain social distance in training camps.</p>



<p>The US fire season spans the summer months, but GFW’s weekly fire alert calculation can give a more specific picture of how regional fire seasons typically shape up over the course of the year, helping keep a closer eye on how the fire season is playing out this year. The season usually peaks in August or September but the chart below shows current California fires are well above normal even for August.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/fireAlertStats/country/USA?fireAlertStats=eyJsYW5kQ2F0ZWdvcnkiOiIifQ=="></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How does this year compare historically?</strong></h3>



<aside id="textbox"> <div><em><b>VIIRS vs MODIS fire data</b><p></p> GFW offers two complimentary sets of NASA global fire data. VIIRS provides a high resolution of 375 meters and therefore displays more fire alerts than 1-kilometer resolution of MODIS. The MODIS system offers data collection beginning as early as 2000 and is often better suited than VIIRS (data starts in 2012) for evaluating trends over long periods of time. While the number of alerts in a given area differs between the two data sources, the trends over time are comparable.</em></div> </aside>



<p>In Indonesia, an intense 2019 fires season threatened to disrupt the country’s progress reducing deforestation, despite enhanced fire prevention. Claims of <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-deforestation/deforestation-risks-rise-as-coronavirus-hinders-se-asia-protection-idUSL8N2BJ12Z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased illegal logging</a> while enforcement efforts are hampered by coronavirus restrictions means this year’s fires season could pose an even bigger threat. But how do these fire seasons compare across a longer time span?</p>



<p>GFW offers fire data back to the early 2000s to compare fire seasons year over year and make it easier to detect trends and outliers. The cumulative fire alert charts below show how past fire seasons have progressed for Indonesia in the last two decades.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/firesAlertsHistorical/country/IDN?firesAlertsHistorical=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319"></iframe>



<p><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/17/dramatic-footage-fuels-fears-amazon-fires-could-be-worse-than-last-year?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reporting</a> stoked fears of another dramatic fire season in Brazil where, like the US, the season is most severe in August and September. The chart below confirms that fires have begun to pick up, and states like Mato Grosso are reaching alert counts similar to <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://gfw.global/3aUyYUS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other historic fire years</a>.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/firesAlertsHistorical/country/BRA/12?firesAlertsHistorical=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Are fires threatening forests?</strong></h3>



<div class="imageright"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="indonesia fire data for primary forests" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IndonesiaFires_2020_primaryforest.jpg" width="100%"></div>



<p>Fires data on GFW can also be overlaid with the other datasets available on GFW to determine whether fire alerts are being detected in ecologically sensitive areas like primary and mangrove forests, or on protected areas and Indigenous lands. In the last six months, for example, almost half of Indonesia’s active fires have occurred in primary forests.</p>



<p>We can also see the extent of fires occurring within tree plantations, <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2020/07/covid-19-indonesia-forest-fire-haze-dry-season/" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">where out of control fires often begin</a>. Plantation companies could require even more scrutiny this season to avoid the impacts of haze on the public health system.</p>



<iframe loading="lazy" width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/fireAlertStats/country/IDN?fireAlertStats=eyJsYW5kQ2F0ZWdvcnkiOiJ3b29kX2ZpYmVyIn0="></iframe>



<p>The pandemic shows no reliable signs of letting up in the next few months. As we hit the peak of many fire seasons around the world, governments and emergency response systems will have to remain vigilant and react quickly in order to safeguard the health of their people and forests.</p>



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<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
To explore fires data on GFW, visit <a href="https://gfw.global/3267JT9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our dashboard</a>. <p></p>
This blog was published August 25, 2020. Fire data embeds are dynamic and may have changed the data displayed since publication. Adjust visible timeframe of data in settings or view on GFW.

 

 

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Tracking Wildfire Trends as Fire Seasons Heat Up

<p>Smoke and haze should never be mixed with a respiratory disease, but as we enter the 2020 dry season, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic threatens to overlap with a potentially intense fire season— adding pressure on emergency response systems already stretched thin.</p>



<p>Monitoring fires and tracking fire trends will be more important than ever this year. NASA’s daily fires alerts, derived from satellite data, are now available on the Global Forest Watch (GFW) dashboards, making it easy to track active fires, compare fire seasons across the last two decades and assess their impact on forests and protected lands around the world.</p>



<p>Here are four questions the fires data on GFW can help answer:</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Where are fires burning?</strong></h3>



<p>GFW allows users to pinpoint where fires are actively burning. Fire alerts from the past three months are displayed on the GFW map in clusters, with darker reds indicating a higher concentration of alerts.</p>



<p>Users can select any 3-month date range extending back to 2012 to view specific historical fires as well. The Australian wildfires from the end of 2019, for example, have a distinct signature in the data.</p>



<iframe width="670" height="490" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/map/country/AUS/5/?mainMap=eyJoaWRlTGVnZW5kIjp0cnVlLCJzaG93QW5hbHlzaXMiOnRydWV9&amp;map=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&amp;menu=eyJkYXRhc2V0Q2F0ZWdvcnkiOiJsYW5kQ292ZXIiLCJtZW51U2VjdGlvbiI6IiJ9"></iframe>



<p>The GFW dashboard can also provide analysis of where the most significant number of fires have been burning over the past four weeks, allowing users to quickly focus on the areas of highest concern.</p>



<p>In Brazil, relaxed measures against forest clearing have already resulted in increased fires in recent years, and the pandemic has heightened concerns of unchecked destruction this year. Earlier this year Brazil’s National Institute for Space and Research (INPE) <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.treeslab.org/uploads/4/6/5/4/465490/nt_desmatamento_fogo_e_covid-19_na_amazonia_-_circulacao.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">called for immediate fire prevention actions</a>, citing “demand for hospitalizations due to respiratory problems induced by fires increases concomitantly with the COVID-19 pandemic, a worsening and possible collapse of public health is expected in several states, including those belonging to the Brazilian Amazon.” Fires are persisting, despite <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://news.mongabay.com/2020/08/fires-in-the-pantanal-we-are-facing-a-scenario-now-that-is-catastrophic/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">a 120-day ban</a> on burning imposed last month.</p>



<p>Using the significant fires visualization, which shows how current fires compare statistically to the historical average, we can see which Brazilian states are currently experiencing higher than usual levels of fire— a sign of where air pollution from active fires has the greatest potential to exacerbate the impacts of the pandemic.</p>



<iframe width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/burnedAreaRanked/country/BRA"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Are we in peak fire season?</strong></h3>



<p>When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the United States, the US Forest Service <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-wildfires/trump-administration-halts-wildfire-prevention-tool-in-california-over-coronavirus-idUSKCN21X1HD" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">suspended controlled burns</a> across several western states, and many routine <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.dnr.wa.gov/wildfiretraining" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fire prevention projects</a> had to be cancelled or postponed as officials worried at the ability of firefighters to maintain social distance in training camps.</p>



<p>The US fire season spans the summer months, but GFW’s weekly fire alert calculation can give a more specific picture of how regional fire seasons typically shape up over the course of the year, helping keep a closer eye on how the fire season is playing out this year. The season usually peaks in August or September but the chart below shows current California fires are well above normal even for August.</p>



<iframe width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/fireAlertStats/country/USA?fireAlertStats=eyJsYW5kQ2F0ZWdvcnkiOiIifQ=="></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>How does this year compare historically?</strong></h3>



<aside id="textbox"> <div><em><b>VIIRS vs MODIS fire data</b><p></p> GFW offers two complimentary sets of NASA global fire data. VIIRS provides a high resolution of 375 meters and therefore displays more fire alerts than 1-kilometer resolution of MODIS. The MODIS system offers data collection beginning as early as 2000 and is often better suited than VIIRS (data starts in 2012) for evaluating trends over long periods of time. While the number of alerts in a given area differs between the two data sources, the trends over time are comparable.</em></div> </aside>



<p>In Indonesia, an intense 2019 fires season threatened to disrupt the country’s progress reducing deforestation, despite enhanced fire prevention. Claims of <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-deforestation/deforestation-risks-rise-as-coronavirus-hinders-se-asia-protection-idUSL8N2BJ12Z" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">increased illegal logging</a> while enforcement efforts are hampered by coronavirus restrictions means this year’s fires season could pose an even bigger threat. But how do these fire seasons compare across a longer time span?</p>



<p>GFW offers fire data back to the early 2000s to compare fire seasons year over year and make it easier to detect trends and outliers. The cumulative fire alert charts below show how past fire seasons have progressed for Indonesia in the last two decades.</p>



<iframe width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/firesAlertsHistorical/country/IDN?firesAlertsHistorical=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319"></iframe>



<p><a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/17/dramatic-footage-fuels-fears-amazon-fires-could-be-worse-than-last-year?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reporting</a> stoked fears of another dramatic fire season in Brazil where, like the US, the season is most severe in August and September. The chart below confirms that fires have begun to pick up, and states like Mato Grosso are reaching alert counts similar to <a aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" href="https://gfw.global/3aUyYUS" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">other historic fire years</a>.</p>



<iframe width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/firesAlertsHistorical/country/BRA/12?firesAlertsHistorical=eyJpbnRlcmFjdGlvbiI6e319"></iframe>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Are fires threatening forests?</strong></h3>



<div class="imageright"><img class=" wp-image-3569 alignright" style="padding-bottom: 10px;" alt="indonesia fire data for primary forests" src="https://dev-global-forest-watch-blog.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/IndonesiaFires_2020_primaryforest.jpg" width="100%"></div>



<p>Fires data on GFW can also be overlaid with the other datasets available on GFW to determine whether fire alerts are being detected in ecologically sensitive areas like primary and mangrove forests, or on protected areas and Indigenous lands. In the last six months, for example, almost half of Indonesia’s active fires have occurred in primary forests.</p>



<p>We can also see the extent of fires occurring within tree plantations, <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2020/07/covid-19-indonesia-forest-fire-haze-dry-season/" target="_blank" aria-label="undefined (opens in a new tab)" rel="noreferrer noopener">where out of control fires often begin</a>. Plantation companies could require even more scrutiny this season to avoid the impacts of haze on the public health system.</p>



<iframe width="630" height="460" frameborder="0" src="https://www.globalforestwatch.org/embed/widget/fireAlertStats/country/IDN?fireAlertStats=eyJsYW5kQ2F0ZWdvcnkiOiJ3b29kX2ZpYmVyIn0="></iframe>



<p>The pandemic shows no reliable signs of letting up in the next few months. As we hit the peak of many fire seasons around the world, governments and emergency response systems will have to remain vigilant and react quickly in order to safeguard the health of their people and forests.</p>



<hr> 

<div class="attribute" style="”padding-bottom:" 10px;”="">
To explore fires data on GFW, visit <a href="https://gfw.global/3267JT9" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">our dashboard</a>. <p></p>
This blog was published August 25, 2020. Fire data embeds are dynamic and may have changed the data displayed since publication. Adjust visible timeframe of data in settings or view on GFW.

 

 

</div> 

 

<hr>