Wildfires

Instructions

Calculating FRP involves remote sensing data, from satellite sensors like the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra and Aqua satellites, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer. Satellite imagery is a key tool in assessing the extent of burned areas. Satellites equipped with various sensors, including multispectral and thermal sensors, can capture images of the affected region before and after the wildfire. By comparing these images, analysts can identify the areas that have been burned. The CAMS GFAS assimilates FRP observations from satellite-based sensors to produce hourly and daily estimates of emissions from wildfires and biomass burning globally with a spatial resolution of 0.1 degrees. The GFAS data output includes spatially gridded FRP and emission fluxes from biomass burning for 40 greenhouse gas, trace gas, and aerosol species related to burning vegetation. Climate change has been identified as a significant factor contributing to the increased frequency and intensity of wildfires in northern extratropical regions. Several factors contribute to this connection, not least among these are the rise in global temperatures and extended periods of drought resulting from climate change. Rising global temperatures combined with altered precipitation patterns are creating drier conditions, which can increase the risk of fires. The situation is exacerbated further by climate change-related changes in wind and lightning patterns. “CAMS provides regular up-to-date information on the location, intensity, and estimated emissions of wildfires around the world, as well as tracking smoke transport and composition,” To learn more about CAMS monitoring of wildfires and smoke, visit the CAMS page on Global fire monitoring and explore CAMS products in the Atmosphere Data Store. Meanwhile, the C3S Climate Data Store contains a wide range of datasets related to wildfires, such as fire weather indicators for Europe from 1970 to 2098 derived from reanalysis and climate projections, or information on burned area from 2001 to the present derived from satellite observations. You can visit the Data Store and browse through all wildfire-related datasets. In addition, the 2023 edition of C3S’s European State of the Climate Report has a special section on wildfires in Europe and in the Arctic. The Eaton Fire was a highly destructive wildfire in Los Angeles County, in Southern California. The fire began on the evening of January 7, 2025, in Eaton Canyon in the San Gabriel Mountains, and a powerful Santa Ana wind event drove the fire into foothill communities, particularly Altadena. The fire killed at least 18 people and destroyed more than 9,000 buildings, becoming the fifth deadliest and the second most destructive wildfire in California history. The cause of the fire is under investigation; news reports and lawsuits have focused on the possible involvement of high tension power lines operated by electrical utility Southern California Edison. The fire was fully contained on January 31 after burning for 24 days. The Eaton Fire was one of eight major wildfires in Southern California in January 2025, and burned simultaneously with the deadly and destructive Palisades Fire in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Palisades fire was one of the most highly destructive fires ever in california ranking in at third place, Which was almost as destructive as the fire from Camp fire 2018. The Palisades fire started burning at Santa Monica Mountains of Los Angeles which started to burn on January 27 2025 and fastly grew to destroy large places like Pacific Palisades, Topanga and Malibu. Before the fire was completely contained it had managed to burn/destroy 23, 448 acres costing 25 billion dollars to repair everything it destroyed 6, 387 and damaged 1, 017 buildings. The saddest part was 12 deaths, 7 missing people luckily 4 escaped with minor injuries and 105,000 evacuated. The Los Angeles Fire Department and Police Department are still in an ongoing investigation. Abbreviation Full Name Description FRP Fire Radiative Power Measures wildfire energy and intensity CAMS Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Monitors air quality, greenhouse gases, and wildfire emissions worldwide GFAS Global Fire Assimilation System Uses satellite data to track wildfires and estimate emissions C3S Copernicus Climate Change Service Provides climate data, projections, and wildfire-related datasets MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer NASA satellite sensor for monitoring wildfires and other Earth phenomena