Potential fire risks in South America under anthropogenic forcing hidden by the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.

ABSTRACT: Fires in South America have profound effects on climate change and air quality. Although anthropogenic forcing has exacerbated drought and fire risks, the fire emissions and aerosol pollution in the southern Amazon and the Pantanal region showed a consistent long-term decrease during the dry season (August-October) between 2003 and 2019. Here, we find that the decreasing trend in fire emissions, mainly located in the non-deforested region, was associated with climatic conditions unfavorable for intensifying and spreading fires, including increased humidity and slower surface wind speed. These climatic trends can be attributed to weakening of the positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, which has strengthened the northeast trade winds within the region (3°S-13°N) and the nor

SUBMITTER: Wang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9068914 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature