Wildfire distribution spreading to areas previously untouched

The study of 20 years of wildfire data shows that whilst the size of the areas affected by wildfires hasn't changed, the type of area affected has. There has been a reduction in fires in grassland areas whereas forested areas are now more at risk.

The changes are feared to be occurring due to human factors. Already rising global temperatures are causing forest vegetation to be drier and highly flammable. In grassland areas which are seeing fewer fire events, the reduction is being attributed to the conversion of these areas due to urbanisation.

In both Australia and the USA, there are more fires occurring in areas that were previously untouched and this is as a direct result of global warming, with scientists stating that the vegetation is so dry due to drier spring, summer and autumn months. This pattern is also reflected in Europe, such as in Portugal, where areas growing eucalyptus have now been affected. Whilst the fires the Amazon has experienced are caused initially by human factors, the spread of the fires is likely to also be due to the vegetation being much drier, as a result of climate change.

For more on this article, together with some interesting maps showing the distribution, look at the attached:

How fires have spread to previously untouched parts of the world | Environment | The Guardian