The University of California's unexpected theory on wildfires and air quality

A new study links the occurrence of wildfires and air quality, a topic that has not been well explored until now. Discover more with us!

vista nocturna de un incendio forestal, con árboles entre las llamas
Forest fires are a type of disaster that affects various countries year after year.

According to a new study, developed by the Riverside University of California, in the United States, improved air quality may be associated with an increase in the frequency of wildfires. This occurs in situations in which this improvement is achieved by acting only on the production of aerosols or the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG). Only the combination of two factors can stop this threat: on the one hand, we must reduce air pollution from aerosols, and at the same time we must focus on reducing the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG).

The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon that allows life on Earth since it allows thermal balance which is essential for the survival of the human species.

If this is not achieved simultaneously, we could be increasing the occurrence of wildfires in areas where there are numerous forests, particularly in the northern latitudes of Russia, Scandinavia, Canada, and Alaska. The study indicates that cleaning aerosols from the air may put forest areas in the northern hemisphere at particular risk.

Aerosols and Greenhouse Gases

Aerosols are small particles that, suspended in the air, move with the force of the wind. Some are natural (dust and sea salt, for example), but there are some of anthropogenic origin, resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal. These aerosols tend to reflect sunlight, making clouds brighter. Fewer aerosols mean more solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface.

Methane is a gas formed by one molecule of Carbon (C) and four of Hydrogen (H), so its chemical formula is CH4. It is a colorless, odorless gas that, added to air, can cause explosions.

Methane and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) are two of the best-known GHGs. The greenhouse effect is a phenomenon that allows life on Earth since it allows thermal balance which is essential for the survival of the human species. However, the emission of both gases, having increased significantly in the last 150 years, as a consequence of human activities, has caused an increase in the greenhouse effect and changes in climate patterns.

Central eléctrica
Coal-fired power plants, despite having proven to be polluting, are still a reality in many European countries.

Climate change and forest fires

Currently, from what has already been written, it is known that heat waves and dry periods occur more frequently than 50 years ago. This causes the amount of combustible material (plants, bushes, or trees, for example) in the soil to be greater.

So that the number of fires and their intensity does not increase in the future, it would be important to reduce methane emissions from agriculture, livestock, landfills, and the burning of fossil fuels. Methane is known to heat the atmosphere 80 times more than CO2 and to have a much shorter lifespan: methane only lasts a decade in the atmosphere, while CO2 can be present for thousands of years.

Reducing methane emissions to a level consistent with the planet's average temperature rise trajectory of 1.5°C would provide significant benefits to human and ecosystem health, food security, and our economies.

More than 150 countries have signed the 2023 Global Methane Commitment, which aims to reduce methane emissions by at least 30% compared to 2020 levels by 2030. It should be noted that the 150 countries represent more than half of the global methane emissions produced by humanity, making this goal achievable. Therefore, this decade will be extremely important to understand whether humanity will play an active role in protecting forests.