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2017-03-06

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cc-by (c) Turco, Marco et al., 2017
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/119323

On the key role of droughts in the dynamics of summer fires in Mediterranean Europe

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00116-9

Abstract

Summer fires frequently rage across Mediterranean Europe, often intensified by high temperatures and droughts. According to the state-of-the-art regional fire risk projections, in forthcoming decades climate effects are expected to become stronger and possibly overcome fire prevention efforts. However, significant uncertainties exist and the direct effect of climate change in regulating fuel moisture (e.g. warmer conditions increasing fuel dryness) could be counterbalanced by the indirect effects on fuel structure (e.g. warmer conditions limiting fuel amount), affecting the transition between climate-driven and fuel-limited fire regimes as temperatures increase. Here we analyse and model the impact of coincident drought and antecedent wet conditions (proxy for the climatic factor influencing total fuel and fine fuel structure) on the summer Burned Area (BA) across all eco-regions in Mediterranean Europe. This approach allows BA to be linked to the key drivers of fire in the region. We show a statistically significant relationship between fire and same-summer droughts in most regions, while antecedent climate conditions play a relatively minor role, except in few specific eco-regions. The presented models for individual eco-regions provide insights on the impacts of climate variability on BA, and appear to be promising for developing a seasonal forecast system supporting fire management strategies.

Subject

Incendis forestals, Prevenció d'incendis, Canvi climàtic, Sequeres, Mediterrània (Regió)

Subject (English)

Forest fires, Fire prevention, Climatic change, Droughts, Mediterranean Region

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TURCO, Marco, et al. On the key role of droughts in the dynamics of summer fires in Mediterranean Europe. Scientific Reports. 2017. Vol. 7, num. 81, pags. 1-10. ISSN 2045-2322. [consulted: 16 of August of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/119323

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