BBC climate and data equipment
Planet LabsThe United Kingdom area burned by forest fires so far this year is already higher than the total of any year in more than a decade, they suggest satellite data.
So far, more than 29,200 hectares (292 km2 or 113 square miles have been burned), according to figures of the global forest fire information system, which has registered the burned area since 2012.
That is more than the previous maximum of 28,100 hectares throughout the year 2019.
The dry and sunny prolonged climate in March and early April helped create ideal conditions for generalized ardor, according to researchers.
Forest fires are very common in the United Kingdom at the beginning of spring, with a lot of dead or latent vegetation at the end of winter that can be dried quickly.
The change of return to more humid conditions in recent weeks has greatly put the fire spell for now, but not before reaching record levels.
The figures of the global forest fire information system only capture fires larger than approximately 30 hectares (0.3 km2).
More than 80 fires of this type have been detected throughout the United Kingdom since the beginning of the year.
Most fires are deliberately or accidentally initiated by humans, but favorable climatic conditions can make it much more important for fires to turn on and spread rapidly.
“We had an exceptionally dry and sunny march,” said Will Lang, head of risk and resilience services at With With Office.
“This followed an autumn and winter quite humid, which can have the effect of increasing the vegetation that acts as a fuel for any fire that begins.”
Lack of rain in March and April can be particularly conducive to fires.
“The vegetation leaves winter and has become inactive, so it is not growing and, therefore, it is very dry and has no water,” said Guillermo Rein, a professor of fire sciences at Imperial College London.
“Then, in spring, before starting to collect water in the living tissue, there is a period in which it is very flammable.”
The seven days of April 2 to 8 were burned more than 18,000 hectares (180 km2), the highest weekly figure registered.
The BBC has also analyzed satellite images to illustrate two of the largest burns this year.
In Galloway Forest Park, in southwest Scotland, it is estimated that 65 km2, almost a quarter of the total United Kingdom.
A fire in the Rheidol CWM area of Wales, about 25 km (16 miles) by Aberystwyth, also burned a large area or approximately 50 km2.
The fires have also detected the leg by satellite images on the island of Arran, the island of Butte and the island of Skye in Scotland, as well as in the mountains of Morne in the southeast of Northern Ireland. Everything happened in early April.
These burns of the early season, predominantly fires of grass, heather and shrub, have created great tension in fire services, but their ecological impacts can be complicated.
Not all fires, partially smaller, lower intensity burns, are necessarily catastrophic for the health of long -term vegetation.
Certain plants, like Heather, are adapted to fire -prone environments. But increasingly frequent or severe flames can affect their ability to recover naturally.
Some researchers are concerned about the second peak of the fire season, which usually occurs later in the year when temperatures are high and vegetation has three out again.
“My number one concern is what will happen in the summer,” said Professor Ren, when “there are less forest fires, but they are larger and can be really catastrophic.”
“You can have 100 [small] Forest fires throughout the country and everyone can be handled in one day, or could have a summer forest fire that the real cannot stop in a week and actually continues to burn houses. “
Recently extended burns do not necessarily mean that this summer will be an occupied fire season.
But scientists expect the United Kingdom to see an increase in climatic conditions that lead to extreme forest fires in a world of heating, even thought there are many variations from year to year.
A study led by With Office found that the extreme “fire climate” that helped spread the destructive flames of July 2022 was made at least six times more likely due to climate change of human consumption.
Changes in the way Earth is used can also play a key role in fire risk configuration.
“One thing that seems to have consensus is that we are likely to see more fires and possible fires with climate change,” said Rory, a professor of fire research at the University of Edinburgh.
“We need to be prepared for this to become more common.”
Additional Phil Lake reports
