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In recent weeks, devastating wildfires have ravaged areas in Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal, resulting in fatalities, displacement of thousands, and significant damage to infrastructure. The European Space Agency (ESA) has responded to the escalating threat by launching an upgraded version of its World Fire Atlas, which utilizes satellite data to track the spread of fires.

The World Fire Atlas dashboard enables users to compare the frequency of fires between countries and analyze the progression of fires over time. Initially introduced in 2019, the tool has been instrumental in supporting European civil protection agencies and firefighters in managing fire outbreaks.

The atlas incorporates night-time data from the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer on board Copernicus Sentinel-3A, Europe’s primary earth observation satellite. Functioning like a sky-based thermometer, the sensor gauges thermal infrared radiation to measure the temperature of Earth’s land surfaces, enabling the detection of fires.

Data from the World Fire Atlas spanning the past seven years reveals a significant number of fires in Portugal, Italy, Greece, France, and Spain. Portugal experienced the highest number of fires in August 2016 and October 2017.

While wildfires are a natural occurrence in various ecosystems, scientists have cautioned that they are becoming more frequent and extensive due to climate change, leading to hotter and drier conditions throughout Europe.

One striking example is the wildfire that broke out on Rhodes Island, Greece, in July, consuming 50,000 hectares in just one week. Approximately 20,000 people were forced to evacuate. The Copernicus rapid mapping service, activated during the event, provided essential geospatial information to assist firefighters in battling the blaze.

By utilizing satellite data, the ESA believes that authorities, researchers, and organizations can develop more effective strategies for fire prevention and management. Olivier Arino, head of the ESA’s Earth Observation Projects Section, emphasizes the ongoing commitment of the ESA, Copernicus, and the EU to leverage space technology in addressing crucial environmental challenges.

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