The role of drought conditions on the recent increase in wildfire occurrence in the high Andean regions of Peru

Abstract

Wildfire occurrence has increased sharply in the last two decades in the Peruvian Andes. There is, however, little research on wildfires and their impacts. This study explores the conditions conducive to wildfire during 2020. MODIS images were collected to estimate the development of vegetation. In addition, ground-based monthly and satellite-based daily precipitation data were collected. Daily precipitation regularity was evaluated using a concentration index (CI), while monthly precipitation was used to estimate the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). We used also the Global Vegetation Moisture Index (GVMI), which is a useful indicator of vegetation dynamics based on vegetation moisture. Our results do not indicate a direct link between rainfall regularity (lowest CI values) and development of vegetation. Although the SPI drought analysis using seasonal rainfall indicated nearly normal conditions during 2019–2020, analysis of dry-day frequency (DDF) suggests that the dry period played an important role between September and November 2020, producing conditions similar to the droughts of 2005, 2010 and 2016. GVMI also showed below-average values from April to November. We corroborate the usefulness of DDF for monitoring the potential increase in wildfire conditions. A controlled burn policy could offer a more useful way to reduce the impacts of wildfire.

Seasonal Effects of Wildfires on the Physical and Chemical Properties of Soil in Andean Grassland Ecosystems in Cusco, Peru: Pending Challenges

“…This reactive approach involves actions such as hiring personnel, procuring equipment to respond to wildfire emergencies, and providing firefighting training. Implementing policies in Peru that incorporate the use of fire by farming communities presents a significant challenge for decision-makers [42,83]. Furthermore, there exists a wide range of sectoral, disciplinary, and personal perspectives among those involved in the different stages of wildfire management, which have yet to find a coordinated space for joint action.…”

“…On the other hand, the increasing frequencies of dry days or hot days in Peru are linked to the escalating impacts of wildfires on grassland ecosystems [13,41], creating conditions that have led to a rise in the frequency of wildfire emergencies and loss of human life. Indeed, extreme events such as droughts are associated with an approximate increase of up to 400% in wildfire frequency over the last two decades [42]. By the end of this century, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has projected that temperatures in tropical regions could potentially increase by up to 4.8 °C [84].…”

“…Grassland ecosystems between 3000 and 4400 meters above sea level (masl) are predominant in the Andean mountains of Cusco [40]. Cusco is one of the region's most severely affected by wildfire emergencies in Peru [13], and has witnessed a significant increase (250%) in the occurrence of wildfires during extreme drought periods such as those in 2005 and 2010 [41,42]. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in the increased occurrence of wildfires during 2020 due to migration processes from urban to agricultural activities [15].…”

Modeling the Effects of Drivers on PM2.5 in the Yangtze River Delta with Geographically Weighted Random Forest

“…Another vegetation variable is the Global Vegetation Moisture Index (GVMI) which measures the moisture content of vegetation. It is calculated using the ratio of near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) light reflected by vegetation [38]. Du et al [39] calculated and verified the effectiveness of the GVMI value in China.…”

Evaluation and Correction of Satellite-Based Rainfall Products (GPM) in the Upstream Part of Bengawan Solo Basin using MCCV Parameterization

“…The most common used product of GPM in hydrological application is the finalrun IMERG daily GPM. It has shown a tremendous performance, and has made significant IOP Publishing doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1343/1/012008 2 contribution in the hydrology sector, such as [1][2][3] and many more. Additionally, GPM excels in detecting low-intensity precipitation.…”