Study: Groundwater Could Play Major Role in Controlling and Preventing Forest Fires
Tropical rainforests have that name for a reason, occurring in high rainfall areas close to the equator with swirling mists shrouding their lofty heights and moist soil that squelches underfoot. Some rainforests in Southeast Asia, however, tell a different tale. They have been drying up. This has caused devastating fires that have been ravaging the area over the last two decades, like one in Indonesia in 1997 that caused more than 300,000 pollution-related deaths across Southeast Asia. And then, more recently, Indonesia's fires of 2015 that scientists estimate contributed to the premature deaths of at least 100,000 people.
Deforestation and climate change are often blamed for rainforest fires. Studies have shown that, if current trends continue, droughts and subsequent fire risk will increase in severity and frequency.
In this scenario, scientists say predicting fires and being able to forecast area that may be burned becomes important for better management.
NASA