Forest fires in Russia
According to Germany's National Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst , DWD), Moskow has never before experienced a heatwave like now. From 14th of July 2010 to 12th of August 2010 there have been 30 consecutive days where temperature has exceeded 30 °C.
Since records started there has never been such a long period with hot days in the Russian capital, nor has a similar situation been observed in Germany.
The figure illustrates the exceptional situation: The satellite image shows anomalies that are based on daytime land surface temperatures from July 20–27, 2010, compared to surface temperatures for the same dates averaged over 2000-2008. The observations were made by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.
Since records started there has never been such a long period with hot days in the Russian capital, nor has a similar situation been observed in Germany.
The figure illustrates the exceptional situation: The satellite image shows anomalies that are based on daytime land surface temperatures from July 20–27, 2010, compared to surface temperatures for the same dates averaged over 2000-2008. The observations were made by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite.
Anomalies of daytime temperature from 20th to 27th of July 2010.
Areas of the map that are coloured orange to red are areas where temperatures during July 20-27 were warmer than in the years before, and blue areas where temperatures were cooler than before. Grey areas are shown where there are no data available. (Source: NASA)
Present situation
The wood and peat fires in Russia can be observed by satellites in different ways: The fires can either be detected by satellites measuring the temperature at the surface or the ash and black carbon particles (called aerosols) and the carbon monoxide can be observed. The aerosol optical depth gives an indirect measure of how many particles are in the air.
Up-to-date information about the fire activity and the air pollution (aerosols and carbon monoxide) can be found at the websites of the MACC project (Monitoring atmospheric composition & climate):
Up-to-date information about the fire activity and the air pollution (aerosols and carbon monoxide) can be found at the websites of the MACC project (Monitoring atmospheric composition & climate):
According to the government of the Russian Federation on 12 August 2010, a total of 26.739 islands of natural fires have appeared in total on the territory of the Russian Federation since the beginning of the 2010 fire hazardous period. In total an area of 816.514,9 ha is burning, including 1104 peat fires, covering an area of 1.759,9 ha.
165.714 people and 26.542 items of equipment (39 aircrafts) were engaged in the fire extinguishing operation. 551 people and 100 items of equipment, including 13 aircrafts (six planes and seven helicopters) were engaged in the fire extinguishing operation from foreign states.
165.714 people and 26.542 items of equipment (39 aircrafts) were engaged in the fire extinguishing operation. 551 people and 100 items of equipment, including 13 aircrafts (six planes and seven helicopters) were engaged in the fire extinguishing operation from foreign states.
Further up-to date-information may be found here:
Global Fire Monitoring Center (GFMC) at University Freiburg, Germany
MODIS Fire Service of the "Center for Satellite Based Crisis Information" (ZKI) at DLR
Radioactive contamination
At present, the fires extend over the contaminated regions of the Chernobyl area as well.
Thus, radioactive particels are released into the atmosphere. Under certain weather conditions, these may be as well transported towards Western Europe. A cloud from Chernobyl area may travel in about one or two days to German regions.
The present predictions of the German Weather Service (DWD) and the "Federal Office for Radiation Protection" (BfS) issued on the 13th of August 2010 assume however, that the fumes from the Chernobyl regions will follow a southeasterly flow towards the Baltic states and then continue over the Baltic Sea towards the south of Sweden.
DWD and BfS provide up-to-date information in their websites:
Thus, radioactive particels are released into the atmosphere. Under certain weather conditions, these may be as well transported towards Western Europe. A cloud from Chernobyl area may travel in about one or two days to German regions.
The present predictions of the German Weather Service (DWD) and the "Federal Office for Radiation Protection" (BfS) issued on the 13th of August 2010 assume however, that the fumes from the Chernobyl regions will follow a southeasterly flow towards the Baltic states and then continue over the Baltic Sea towards the south of Sweden.
DWD and BfS provide up-to-date information in their websites:
Risk management
Apart from the natural conditions that trigger forest fires the risk management and coping capacities determine the extent of fires and their effects on society.
According to a report of the Circumboreal Initiative of the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) major drivers for increasing forest fire risk and vulnerability are:
- Climate Change
- Forest Health
- Competition for the Boreal Forest Land-Base
- Fire Management Capacity
- Expanding Communities
According to a report of the Circumboreal Initiative of the International Model Forest Network (IMFN) major drivers for increasing forest fire risk and vulnerability are:
- Climate Change
- Forest Health
- Competition for the Boreal Forest Land-Base
- Fire Management Capacity
- Expanding Communities
By the 1990s, the Soviet Union had the largest fire fighting system in the world. However, when the Soviet political system collapsed in 1991, budgets for fire control were greatly reduced. As a consequence of the reduction in available aircraft, permissible flight hours and personnel, fire detection is often delayed substantially.
Consequently the average size of fires at detection has constantly increased over the past decade resulting in an increase of the number of large fires (Stocks et al, 2008).
Reduced fire management capacity in Russia combines with other factors to produce extreme fire years. This already occurred in 2003 when an extended drought, inappropriate forest management (illegal logging and extensive clearcuts), and economically motivated arson combined with a greatly reduced fire management capacity to create an extreme fire situation in which close to 18 million hectares burned. (Stocks et al, 2008).
Consequently the average size of fires at detection has constantly increased over the past decade resulting in an increase of the number of large fires (Stocks et al, 2008).
Reduced fire management capacity in Russia combines with other factors to produce extreme fire years. This already occurred in 2003 when an extended drought, inappropriate forest management (illegal logging and extensive clearcuts), and economically motivated arson combined with a greatly reduced fire management capacity to create an extreme fire situation in which close to 18 million hectares burned. (Stocks et al, 2008).
Further information
In Germany, the automated early warning system for forest fires "FireWatch" has been used since 2002.
Further information about natural disasters and risk management are provided at the website of the German Committee for disaster risk reduction (DKKV):
DKKV
