Climate change driving 800pc rise in bushfire activity: CSIRO

The research is the first of its kind, combining analysis of previous forest fire sites with eight drivers of fire activity including climate, fuel accumulation, ignition and prescribed burning.

More than 30 years of satellite data and 90 years of ground-based datasets from climate and weather observations, and simulated fuel loads for Australian forests, formed the basis of the research, which allowed researchers to identify climate change driven increases versus natural variability.

When comparing the first half (1988 to 2001) with the second half (2002 to 2018) of the record studied, the research showed that the average annual forest burned area in Australia increased 350 per cent, and 800 per cent when including 2019.

A lengthening of the fire season towards autumn and winter were also identified, along with an increase in fire activity in cooler and warmer regions including alpine forests in Tasmania and tropical rainforests in Queensland.

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The research showed a five-fold increase in annual average burned area in winter and a three-fold increase in autumn, with spring and summer seeing a ten-fold increase.

CSIRO scientist Pep Canadell said the research was one of the most extensive studies of its kind performed to date, and was important for understanding how continued changes to the climate might impact future fire activity.

"While all eight drivers of fire-activity played varying roles in influencing forest fires, climate was the overwhelming factor driving fire-activity," Dr Canadell said.

"The results also suggest the frequency of forest megafires are likely to continue under future projected climate change."

Over the last 90 years, three of the four mega fire years occurred after the year 2000. A mega fire year is defined as the cumulative burned area of forest over one year of more than 1 million hectares.

Australia's mean temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees since 1910, with a rapid increase in extreme heat events, while rainfall has declined in the southern and eastern regions of the continent.

Globally fire activity is decreasing, however, the extent of forest fires in Australia is increasing.

"In Australia, fire frequency has increased rapidly in some areas and there are now regions in the southeast and south with fire intervals shorter than 20 years," Dr Canadell said.

"This is significant because it means some types of vegetation won't reach maturity and this could put ecosystems at risk.

"Understanding these trends will help to inform emergency management, health, infrastructure, natural resource management and conservation."

The study is the latest in a wave of research linking larger and more frequent bushfires with climate change.

Last year, the CSIRO told a parliamentary inquiry the ability to carry out hazard reduction burns had been restricted due to climate change, as landholders and firefighters had a reduced window to safely carry out the prescribed burns.