Climate Change
Higher temperatures, droughts and strong winds: the link between climate change and the rise in wildfires.
In recent years the area burned by wildfires has kept growing, one of several climate phenomena causing enormous devastation.
What is the link between climate change and wildfires?
- Higher temperatures
- More drought
- Strong winds
- More intense fires
A notable example was the 2020 Siberian wildfires, in which millions of hectares of boreal forest burned and released a huge amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
There is no exact figure for the losses from these Siberian fires, as they occurred in remote areas and in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This caused great concern because of:
Permafrost thaw:
The heat from the fires accelerated permafrost thaw, releasing even more carbon stored in the soil and creating a vicious circle of warming.
Rising temperatures in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions
The long, hot summers hitting Arctic and sub-Arctic areas are creating perfect conditions for fires like the one in Siberia.
Widespread soil drying
Permafrost thaw has made the soil more porous and dry, combined with rising heat that evaporates soil moisture and changes in pressure.
A Global Phenomenon
Countries all over the world have recorded a significant increase in fires. With the help of satellite imagery, some of the worst-affected areas can be seen, including:
- Portugal
- Spain
- Canada
- France
- Greece
- Italy