Copernicus: Record Fires in South America; Unusually many fires in many areas from early January to March

The Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service reported that central regions of South America experienced exceptionally high fires from early January, throughout February to March. Some regions and provinces of Paraguay and northern Argentina have recorded record highs due to seasonal fires.

Left: Total daily GFASv1.2 fire radiation forcing since 1 January 2022 for South America. Right: January to March (through March 8, 2022) total estimated CO2 emissions for South America. Source: Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service / ECMWF

Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS), conducted by the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in the European Union, reported that since the beginning of the year, fires in South America, specifically Paraguay, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela, have shown record fire intensity, based on satellite observations of fire radiation (FRP), well above average. For the period 2003-2021. These unusual emissions peaked in January 2022 but continued to radiate above average throughout February, with some fires continuing into March. Northern Argentina and Paraguay experienced hot, dry conditions throughout the summer, resulting in increased fire risks associated with the observed fire activity.

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Left: Total daily GFASv1.2 fire radiation impact since January 1, 2022 in Paraguay. Right: Total daily GFASv1.2 fire radiation impact since 1 January 2022 for Argentina. Source: Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service / ECMWF

CAMS Global Fire Absorption System (GFAS) analysis shows that fire activity in Paraguay and Argentina between January 1 and February 28 has reached record amounts of estimated CO2 emissions since early 2003, when the data set began. In northern Argentina, these fires persisted in Corrientes and the wetlands of Iberia. In January and February, the estimated daily emissions were above the average for the period 2003-2021, and although they were lower during the first week of March, they were still well above the average. GFAS data between January 1 and February 28 shows the total estimated CO2 emissions from wildfires in Paraguay to be around 5 megatons, while the total estimated CO2 emissions for Argentina during the same period are nearly 12 megatons, with more than 8.5 megatons Because of the fires in the north of the country and 5.5 of those coming only from the province of Corrientes.

Left: GFASv1.2 January-March (through March 8, 2022) Estimated total CO2 emissions for Paraguay. Right: GFASv1.2 January-March (until March 8, 2022) Estimated total CO2 emissions for Argentina. Source: Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service / ECMWF

Meanwhile, the Efficiency Assurance Management System has monitored wildfires caused by severe drought conditions in Colombia and Venezuela, where the fire season usually begins in February and lasts until April. GFAS data showed an increase in forest fire emissions at the end of January and the beginning of February 2022 in connection with the increased risk of forest fires in the Amazon and Orino Valley according to the ECMWF Global Fire Outlook (GEFF). Since the end of February, the GEFF forecast for the Orinoco Valley has shown an improvement, due to the changing weather conditions in the region. The Competence Assurance Management System (CAMS) continues to monitor South America for La Niña conditions, which the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) expects to continue between March and May. Low or high amounts of precipitation between February and May can increase fire risks in southern parts of South America and reduce fire risks in northern parts of the continent.

Animation of visual depth analyzes of organic matter aerosols in the South American EAC from March 1-9, 2022. Credit: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service / ECMWF

The EAS provides up-to-date information on the location, intensity, and estimated emissions of wildfires worldwide, including tracking smoke transmission and its impact on atmospheric composition. These fires are not only devastating to Earth, but emissions of particulate matter and associated pollutants pose a serious risk to human health and the environment through the deterioration of air quality. CAMS monitors the short and long wind transports of these fires across the continent, for example through the large amounts of smoke that reach Ecuador and Peru from Colombia and Venezuela.

Mark Barrington, Senior Investigator and Forest Fire Expert at ECMWF, Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, comments: “We closely monitor global and regional fires in the EAM using real-time monitoring of the location and intensity of active wildfires. Using a combination of a management system Efficiency Assurance tools, we can track and monitor the development of fires in South America and provide data on their smoke emissions and their impact on the atmosphere at the local and global levels.” Efficiency Assurance Management System data is freely available for use and can serve as an important support in.

More information about fires in South America:

https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/south-america-sees-record-wildfire-activity-early-2022-nf

Competency Assurance Management System Global Fire Monitor Page: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/fire-monitoring

More on fire protection in CAMS Wildfire Questions and Answers: https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/qa-wildfires

About ECMWF and Copernicus

Copernicus is part of the European Union’s Space Programme, funded by the European Union, the flagship Earth observation programme. The operation operates through six thematic services: Atmosphere, Marine, Land, Climate Change, Security and Emergencies. It provides freely available operational data and services that provide users with reliable and up-to-date information about our planet and its environment. The program is coordinated and managed by the European Commission and implemented in partnership with Member States, the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMTSAT), the European Center for Medium Distance Forecasting (ECMWF), European Union agencies, Mercator Océan and more.

ECMWF operates two services of the European Union’s Copernicus Earth Observation Program: the Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service (CAMS) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S). They also contribute to the Copernican Emergency Management Service (CEMS), which is implemented by the European Union Joint Research Council (JRC). The European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an independent intergovernmental organization supported by 35 countries. It is a 24/7 operational research and service institute that produces and publishes digital weather forecasts to its member states. These data are fully available to the national meteorological services of the member states. The supercomputer facility (and associated data archives) at the ECMWF is one of the largest of its kind in Europe and member states can use 25% of its capacity for their own purposes.

ECMWF has increased the number of places in which it does business. In addition to the UK headquarters and the computing center in Italy, new offices focusing on activities implemented in partnership with the European Union, such as Copernicus, will be located in Bonn, Germany starting in the summer of 2021.

Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service: http://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/

Copernicus Climate Change Service: https://climate.copernicus.eu/
More information about Copernicus: www.copernicus.eu

ECMWF Web: https://www.ecmwf.int/

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Nuria Lopez
Communication | Copernicus contracts and the press
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European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts
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Email: [email protected]
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Bjorn Mogensen
Oxenstierna Communication
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