A recent study has found that South America is facing a rise in warm, dry, and flammable conditions that are fueling more frequent and intense wildfires.
Published in Communications Earth and Environment, the study notes that these conditions are not only promoting natural wildfires but also contributing to human-caused fires.
According to meteorologist Raúl Cordero, “We believe this is the first [study] to search for when these conditions happen at the same time,” referencing a detailed analysis of high temperatures, dryness, and low humidity that collectively create what the researchers call “dry compounds.” These findings were based on data from 1971 to 2022.
Regions like the Maracaibo basin in Venezuela, the northern Brazilian Amazon, and the Gran Chaco basin in Bolivia and Brazil have seen a dramatic increase in days with these dangerous conditions.
In the past two decades, these areas have experienced more than twice the number of highly flammable days compared to the previous decades.
The study highlights that specific areas, including northern Venezuela, northern Brazil, and parts of Bolivia, are experiencing the steepest temperature increases and precipitation reductions.
The research indicates that between 2001 and 2022, the Gran Chaco region saw a precipitation drop of approximately 100 millimeters.
In the Maracaibo region, it was even more significant at 200 millimeters.
The research also identified a shift in the frequency of dry compound days, especially from 2001 to 2022, where the number of such days in the northern Amazon and Maracaibo regions tripled.
Forest engineer Camila Silva, while not a part of the study, emphasized the concern about the lack of time for ecosystems to recover from the increased frequency of fires, particularly in the Pantanal wetlands.
“The increase in frequency of extreme events and wildfires is depleting these biomes’ recovery capacity,” Silva said.
The study also delves into how global climate patterns like El Niño and La Niña affect the region.
The El Niño phase, characterized by warmer waters in the eastern Pacific, is linked to increased fire risks in the northern Amazon.
In contrast, La Niña’s cooling of the Pacific waters has more influence over the Gran Chaco region, which includes parts of Brazil’s Pantanal.
According to the study, the past three years, under La Niña conditions, were among the driest in recent history, particularly in the Pantanal.
Raúl Cordero commented on the critical role of climate phenomena, stating, “We cannot forget that fires also kill people directly and indirectly.” These seasonal shifts are having a profound impact on the occurrence of wildfires, exacerbating the situation in South America’s already vulnerable regions.
While the study underscores the growing fire risk, experts like Cordero also stress the need for better fire preparedness and improved biomass management.
“Our hope is that the research contributes to greater fire preparedness,” he stated.
With climate change and land-use alterations amplifying the problem, experts suggest that proactive measures are necessary to mitigate future wildfire damage, which not only affects ecosystems but also poses direct health threats to local populations.
South America is seeing a rise in warm, dry, and flammable conditions, which are increasing the frequency of wildfires across the continent.
Key areas like the northern Amazon, the Gran Chaco, and the Pantanal are experiencing significant changes in temperature and precipitation, contributing to higher fire risks.
The El Niño phenomenon exacerbates conditions in the northern regions, while La Niña impacts the south.
Experts urge more research and fire preparedness to address the growing wildfire threat, emphasizing the need for improved biomass management and ecosystem recovery.
