How the world’s fires changed while humanity hit pause
Summary
A study led by Jianghao Wang found that average fire activity fell during COVID-19 lockdowns, when human mobility dropped. The researchers used lockdown orders, mobile phone location data, and satellite fire detections to examine how human activity affects fires alongside weather.Key Facts
- The study was led by Jianghao Wang, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- The researchers compared fire activity during the COVID-19 period with activity in other years.
- They used regional lockdown orders and mobile phone location data to identify periods of restricted mobility.
- NASA and NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite supplied fire data through its VIIRS sensor, which detects heat at a 375-meter resolution.
- One large fire can produce multiple active-fire detections in satellite data.
- The researchers found that lower human activity during 2020 lockdowns had the net effect of reducing average fire activity.
- Weather conditions such as dry vegetation and strong winds affect how fires start and spread.
- People can both start fires and reduce fire risk through firefighting and clearing flammable material.
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