Satellite Monitoring of Burnt-out Areas and Emissions of Harmful Contaminants Due to Forest and Other Wildfires in Russia

Abstract

In this paper we summarize the results of the satellite monitoring of various types of wildfires, as well as emissions of carbon-containing the CO and CO2 gases and the fine PM2.5 aerosol into the atmosphere due to wildfires, throughout the Russian Federation and several of its regions in 2005–2017. The methodology and features of the satellite system used for the monitoring are described. An analysis of the overall estimations of the total wildfire areas, areas of burnt-out forests, as well as the volumes of harmful contaminant emissions due to them, is given. It is shown that between 2005 and 2017 the total areas of all types of wildfires in Russia, including forest fires, more than halved due to the measures taken on urgent fire detection and well-timed actions to extinguish them. The burnt-out areas reached a peak of 234 700 km2 in 2006 were minimal (74 000 km2) in 2013. The largest areas of burnt-out forest were in the Siberian Federal District. Fires spread to a maximum of 53 600 km2 in this region in 2012, while the total burnt-out areas covered 65 000 km2.