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Drivers of Fire Anomalies in the Brazilian Amazon: Lessons Learned from the 2019 Fire Crisis

Author

Listed:
  • Marcus V. F. Silveira

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Caio A. Petri

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Igor S. Broggio

    (Laboratory of Environmental Sciences, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes 28013-600, Brazil
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Gabriel O. Chagas

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Mateus S. Macul

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Cândida C. S. S. Leite

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Edson M. M. Ferrari

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Carolina G. V. Amim

    (Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP)/National Centre for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN), São José dos Campos 12247-004, Brazil)

  • Ana L. R. Freitas

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Alline Z. V. Motta

    (Department of Forestry, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina 39100-000, Brazil)

  • Luiza M. E. Carvalho

    (Department of Forestry, Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri (UFVJM), Diamantina 39100-000, Brazil)

  • Celso H. L. Silva Junior

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Liana O. Anderson

    (National Centre for Monitoring and Early Warning of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN), São Jose dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil)

  • Luiz E. O. C. Aragão

    (Earth Observation and Geoinformatics Division, National Institute for Space Research, São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil
    College of Life and Environmental Sciences Amory Building, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RJ, UK)

Abstract

The 2019 fire crisis in Amazonia dominated global news and triggered fundamental questions about the possible causes behind it. Here we performed an in-depth investigation of the drivers of active fire anomalies in the Brazilian Amazon biome. We assessed a 2003–2019 time-series of active fires, deforestation, and water deficit and evaluated potential drivers of active fire occurrence in 2019, at the biome-scale, state level, and local level. Our results revealed abnormally high monthly fire counts in 2019 for the states of Acre, Amazonas, and Roraima. These states also differed from others by exhibiting in this year extreme levels of deforestation. Areas in 2019 with active fire occurrence significantly greater than the average across the biome had, on average, three times more active fires in the three previous years, six times more deforestation in 2019, and five times more deforestation in the five previous years. Approximately one-third of yearly active fires from 2003 to 2019 occurred up to 1 km from deforested areas in the same year, and one-third of deforested areas in a given year were located up to 500 m from deforested areas in the previous year. These findings provide critical information to support strategic decisions for fire prevention policies and fire combat actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Marcus V. F. Silveira & Caio A. Petri & Igor S. Broggio & Gabriel O. Chagas & Mateus S. Macul & Cândida C. S. S. Leite & Edson M. M. Ferrari & Carolina G. V. Amim & Ana L. R. Freitas & Alline Z. V. Mo, 2020. "Drivers of Fire Anomalies in the Brazilian Amazon: Lessons Learned from the 2019 Fire Crisis," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-24, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:9:y:2020:i:12:p:516-:d:461538
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. de Mendonca, Mario Jorge Cardoso & Vera Diaz, Maria del Carmen & Nepstad, Daniel & Seroa da Motta, Ronaldo & Alencar, Ane & Gomes, Joao Carlos & Ortiz, Ramon Arigoni, 2004. "The economic cost of the use of fire in the Amazon," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 89-105, May.
    2. Fonseca Morello, Thiago & Marchetti Ramos, Rossano & O. Anderson, Liana & Owen, Nathan & Rosan, Thais Michele & Steil, Lara, 2020. "Predicting fires for policy making: Improving accuracy of fire brigade allocation in the Brazilian Amazon," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Yunxia Wang & Guy Ziv & Marcos Adami & Cláudio Aparecido de Almeida & João Francisco Gonçalves Antunes & Alexandre Camargo Coutinho & Júlio César Dalla Mora Esquerdo & Alessandra Rodrigues Gomes & Dav, 2020. "Upturn in secondary forest clearing buffers primary forest loss in the Brazilian Amazon," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 290-295, April.
    4. Luiz E. O. C. Aragão & Liana O. Anderson & Marisa G. Fonseca & Thais M. Rosan & Laura B. Vedovato & Fabien H. Wagner & Camila V. J. Silva & Celso H. L. Silva Junior & Egidio Arai & Ana P. Aguiar & Jos, 2018. "21st Century drought-related fires counteract the decline of Amazon deforestation carbon emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Minerva Singh & Shivam Sood & C. Matilda Collins, 2022. "Fire Dynamics of the Bolivian Amazon," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-23, August.
    2. Fonseca Morello, Thiago, 2023. "Hospitalization due to fire-induced pollution in the Brazilian Amazon: A causal inference analysis with an assessment of policy trade-offs," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    3. Eric de Souza Nascimento & Sonaira Souza da Silva & Leandra Bordignon & Antonio Willian Flores de Melo & Amintas Brandão & Carlos M. Souza & Celso H. L. Silva Junior, 2021. "Roads in the Southwestern Amazon, State of Acre, between 2007 and 2019," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-12, January.

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