Recent Wildfires and Environmental Impacts
Recent natural disasters in the U.S. and Japan have highlighted the increasing severity and frequency of wildfires. In January 2025, wildfires in Texas, Oklahoma, and Los Angeles destroyed approximately 300 homes, resulted in 28 fatalities, and engulfed 16,000 hectares of land.
Environmental Implications
- According to the Copernicus Air Monitoring Service (CAMS), wildfires released 800,000 tonnes of carbon in January 2025 alone, quadruple the amount released a decade ago.
- NASA's Terra and Aqua satellites reported that the fires' radiative power far exceeded the long-term average since 2003.
Forest Fires in India
- India's latest State of Forest Report (December 2024) recorded significant forest fires in Uttarakhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
- Uttarakhand experienced 5,315 forest fires between November 2022 and June 2023.
- The number of fire 'hotspots' in India is declining, from 2.23 lakh in 2021-2022 to 2.03 lakh in 2023-2024.
Climate Change and Wildfires
- Research indicates rising land temperatures in India, contributing to conditions favorable for wildfires.
- Heat waves are occurring earlier, moving slower, and lasting longer.
- Forest fires in India emit approximately 69 million tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, raising concerns about the earth's natural carbon sinks.
The Role of Carbon Sinks
The Arctic Boreal Zone (ABZ) is a crucial carbon sink but is increasingly releasing more carbon than it absorbs due to intensified wildfires. A study in Nature Climate Change revealed that more than 30% of the ABZ has transitioned from a carbon sink to a carbon source.
Study Findings
- The study analyzed data from 200 monitoring sites globally from 1990 to 2020, observing carbon concentration changes.
- Alaska, northern Europe, and Siberia are major contributors to the 'new' carbon emissions.
- The ABZ's carbon release began before 1990, exacerbated by significant fires in Eastern Siberia and Canada.
Causes of Increased Carbon Release
- The thawing of tundra permafrost due to global warming increases soil temperatures, leading to organic decomposition and carbon release.
- This creates a feedback loop where more frequent wildfires lead to more carbon emissions, further intensifying global warming.
Corroborating Reports
- The 2024 Arctic Report Card by NOAA confirms that wildfires are transforming the Arctic tundra into a carbon source.
- Frequent wildfires are forcing the tundra to absorb unprecedented levels of pollution, indicating long-term climate changes.