Climate change has been found to be an overwhelming factor in the increase of Australian bush fires in both frequency and intensity, according to a landmark report from the country’s national science agency.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on 26 November published an analysis of bush fire activity in 324,000 sq. km of forest over the past 32 years.
According to the report, the average area of forest burned annually was 800% higher between 2002 and 2019 than from 1988 to 2001.
Since 1988 the average burned area has increased fivefold in winter, threefold in autumn and tenfold in spring and summer.
The report found that factors such as the amount of vegetation, time elapsed since the last fire in an area and hazard burning reduction all impact the intensity of fires but that climate change was the overwhelming factor in the increase in frequency and intensity since 1988.
Of the four Australian ‘megafires’ (defined as a bush fire that burns more than one million hectares) since 1930, three have occurred since 2000.
CSIRO scientist Pep Canadell said it was one of the most extensive studies of its kind ever undertaken. ‘The results suggest the frequency of forest megafires are likely to continue under future projected climate change.
‘This is happening regardless of anything that we might or might not do to try to stop the fires,’ Dr Canadell told Nine Entertainment newspapers
For more information, go to www.straitstimes.com/asia/australianz/climate-change-overwhelming-factor-in-fuelling-australian-bushfires-report
