Researchers Demonstrate Human Impact on Fires in the Arctic

(CONNECT) An international research team led by the University of Zurich (UZH) has studied the impact of human activities on fires throughout the Arctic region. Researchers from NASA's (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of Münster also participated in the study.

For the years 2001 through 2013, the team compared illuminated areas with unilluminated regions that had similar climatic conditions. According to a press release, fires occurred 2.5 times more frequently in the illuminated areas. More fires also occurred in the surrounding areas, “which points to a strong spatial correlation between human activities and the occurrence of fires,” according to lead author Cengiz Akandil of UZH. However, temperature, humidity, and dry conditions also remain important factors in Arctic wildfires.

To measure human presence, the researchers used satellite data on artificial nighttime lighting, which indicates the presence of settlements and industrial activity. At the regional level, the correlation between illuminated areas and fires varied in strength. The team also attributes this to differences in fire prevention and firefighting efforts.

Fires in the Arctic can damage infrastructure and ecosystems, accelerate the thawing of permafrost, and thereby release additional carbon. This, in turn, can affect the global climate. The smoke can also travel far beyond the region.

In light of the ongoing development of the Arctic and climatic conditions that are increasingly conducive to wildfires, Gabriela Schaepman-Strub of the Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Sciences at UZH sees a growing need for action. "It is becoming 'increasingly important to integrate fire prevention into land-use planning, industrial operations, and strategies for protecting communities,'" said the study's director. ce/as