Satellite Monitoring of Wildfires During the Anomalous Heat Wave of 2010 in Russia V
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ISSN 00014338, Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics, 2011, Vol. 47, No. 9, pp. 1039–1048. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2011. Original Russian Text © V.G. Bondur, 2011, published in Issledovanie Zemli iz Kosmosa, 2011, No. 3, pp. 3–13. Satellite Monitoring of Wildfires during the Anomalous Heat Wave of 2010 in Russia V. G. Bondur Institute for Scientific Research of Aerospace Monitoring AEROCOSMOS, Gorokhovskii per. 4, Moscow, 105064 Russia email: [email protected] Received January 27, 2011 Abstract—We describe the specific features of the summer 2010 emergency conditions in the European part of the Russian Federation, when an anomalous heat wave (the monthly mean temperatures in the summer months were 5–9°C higher than those for 2002–2009) and prolonged blocking anticyclones led to large wild fires. We analyze their causes and consequences. The features of the satellite system for operational fire mon itoring (constructed at the Aerospace Scientific Center) and examples of its application in summer 2010 are presented. On the basis of the results of processing of satellite images of low (250–1000 m), medium (~30– 50 m), and high (~6 m) resolutions, we found that the total area covered by fire from March to November of 2010 amounted to approximately 10.9 million hectares for the entire territory of the country and and 2.2 mil lion hectares for its European part. Daily histograms of areas covered by fire in the summer months of 2010 were constructed. On the basis of these data and empirical models, we estimate the daily emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) from wildfires in the summer months of 2010 for the European part of Russia and Moscow oblast. On some days in August 2010, these emissions reached 15000–27000 t for the European part of Russia and 3000–7500 t for Moscow oblast. On the basis of analysis of data from the AIRS spectrometer (Aqua sat ellite), we derived the spatial distribution of CO concentrations at heights of 2 to 10 km above the territory of the Eastern and Central Europe. Moscow was shown to have been most severely affected by smoke from wild fires occurring on August 6–9, 2010, when the concentrations of harmful gases (CO2, CO, CH4, and O3) and aerosols in the air significantly exceeded both the daily and the onehour maximum allowable concentra tions. Keywords: satellite monitoring of wildfires, anomalous heat wave, European part of Russia. DOI: 10.1134/S0001433811090040 INTRODUCTION Ministry of Civil Defense, Emergencies, and Disaster The summer of 2010 in Russia was characterized by Relief of the Russian Federation (EMERCOM). The extraordinary heat, drought, and large wildfires (for data supplied by these two organizations are different. est, steppe, and peat) predominantly in the European For example, the 2009 Rosleskhoz data indicate part of the country. In some regions, these fires killed 2.4 million hectares for the total area covered by fire 60 people. 2500 houses were burned in around and 22540 for the number of forest fires. Unlike this, 150 populated localities. More than 3500 people according to official data of EMERCOM, the first fig became homeless. For a few days, many towns and ure was 1.14 million hectares (i.e., more than a factor localities (including such a big megalopolis as Mos of two smaller than the figure provided by Rosleskhoz) cow) were covered by smoke. The fires paralyzed the and the number of fire sources was 21900 (Bondur, operation of airports and roads, led to a shutdown of 2010). However, these statistical data refer only to pro power transmission lines and electric power substa tected territories. In view of the fact that wildfires tions, and became a threat to key strategic facilities. occur also on unprotected and rarely protected territo The fires caused serious damage to forestry and agri ries (mainly in Siberia and the Far East), the total area culture. A huge amount of harmful gaseous compo covered by fire for the entire Russian Federation con nents and aerosols emitted in the course of burning of stitutes from 2 to 6 million hectares annually (Isaev forests, grass, and peat lands entered the air, polluting et al., 1995; Vorob’ev et al., 2004). The Earth as a the atmosphere and threatening human health. whole has up to 400000 wildfires annually (Vorob’ev et al., 2004). According to official data provided by the Federal Agency of Forestry (Rosleskhoz), the territory of Rus To obtain meaningful data on the number of fires sia has 10000 to 40000 wildfires occurring every year and areas covered by fire, it is necessary to use and covering a area of 0.5 to 2.5 million hectares. advanced (first of all, satellite) technologies. This Another source of statistical data on wildfires is the study presents the results of monitoring of wildfires 1039 1040 BONDUR that occurred in 2010 on the territory of Russia with Forest fires make large territories smoky and the help of the satellite system of the Aerokosmos Sci change the chemical composition of the atmospheric entific Center of Aerospace Monitoring. air owing to the emission of various minor gaseous components, which leads to a change in the ozone concentration. Increased emissions of carbon monox CAUSES AND CONSEQUENCES ide and carbon dioxide as well as other greenhouse OF WILDFIRES gases influence the Earth’s climate. Over a season of plant vegetation, the flux of carbon deposited from the Wildfires are chiefly caused by anthropogenic atmosphere through photosynthesis can reach values activities (~79%). Here, the main responsibility for of 80 to 310 gC/m2 (Isaev et al., 1995). Big forest fires fires falls on the population itself (~70%). Agricultural reduce the sinks of atmospheric carbon because of primers, brush burning, forest operators, expeditions, decreased biomass volumes. Here, fires lead to a transfor and transport systems are responsible for ~9.1% of mation of forests into carbon sources through direct emis wildfires. Natural factors (lightning) cause slightly sions during biomass burning (from 14.0 to 40.0 Mt/g) more than 13% of fires. The source of the remaining and indirect fire effects on the heat and water condi fraction of fires is unclear (Vorob’ev et al., 2004). tions as well as on the structure and functioning of The fire hazard of territories depends on the ecosystems (Bondur et al., 2009; Vorob’ev et al., humidity of the soil and vegetation cover and the air 2004). temperature. When the water content of dead vegeta Fires lead to a partial liquidation of the vegetation tion, moss, lichens, and other conductors of burning is cover and decreased albedo of the soil surface (the lat less than 25%, favorable conditions are created for the ter increases the surface temperature and the rate of emergence and spread of ground fires. At the same decomposition of vegetation remains). They disrupt time, if the humidity of tree crowns is less than 80%, the accumulation of organic substances in soil and there arises a serious danger that ground fires would change the balance between the supply of detritus and turn to crown fires, which are the most hazardous in heterotrophic respiration. Fires change the succession terms of both the rate of propagation (3 to 100 m/min of vegetation and the composition of its types as well as and more) and destruction of forest flora and fauna the substrate quality (Isaev et al., 1995; Bondur et al., (Vorob’ev et al., 2004; Bondur et al., 2009; Bondur, 2009). 2010). In this respect, in hot and dry periods, the fre At the same time, forest fires play a significant role quency of fire occurrence grows significantly. This is in the formation of forest ecosystems. They are an confirmed both by historical facts and by modernday integral element of their evolution. It is well known data. Existing historical records show that bursts in the that pine forests recover after fires more easily and rate of fires fall within dry periods. For example, the quickly than in areas of clearings. Furthermore, the Suzdal’ chronicle reports that there were droughts and productivity of forest ecosystems was observed to large forest and peat fires in Russia in 1223 and 1298. increase after fires. The recovery of forest communi The Nikon and Novgorod chronicles mention ties depends on the frequency and intensity of fires. droughts and large forest fires in the 14th–17th centu The relatively frequent and lowintensity fires in ries accompanied by famine among the population boreal forests of Siberia change the age and quality of and big losses in wild animal stocks. Information forest stands. Fires were found to be a necessary ele about droughts and large forest fires in the 18th– ment for supporting the biodiversity. The regeneration 19th centuries can be found in many historical docu of forest ecosystems after fires depends on many fac ments and in extant communications between well tors (climate, soil, composition of rocks, topography, known people and journal publications of that time. etc.). In coniferous forests of Siberia where there is The number of droughts and forest fires mentioned in permafrost, the brush and grassandbrush strata the Russian chronicles is no more than 50. In the 20th recover after fires in 4–5 years, while the recovery of and early 21st centuries, the registration of wildfires moss and lichen is significantly slower (Bondur et al., acquired a regular character, and the problem itself 2009). received scientific importance. The link between Thus, the problem of wildfires has two aspects: anomalous heat waves and large numbers of wildfires is negative and positive. The negative aspect is related to confirmed by the 1972, 2002, and 2010 events in the the economic losses for humans, threats to their lives, Soviet Union and Russia (Bondur, 2010).