Author(s):
Paul Arnold
Wildfires trigger massive soil loss for decades, new global map shows
Source(s):
Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
Wildfires are devastating events that destroy forests, burn homes and force people to leave their communities.
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On average, wildfires burn approximately 4 million square kilometers of land per year, an area equivalent to the size of the European Union.
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The results revealed that wildfires cause the loss of 8.1 billion tons of soil each year, accounting for 19% of all soil erosion on Earth.
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The researchers predict that the problem will only get worse as climate change leads to more intense and frequent rainstorms. They estimate that post-fire soil erosion could increase by as much as 28% by the year 2070.
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