According to the IGc professor, the research has revealed that both forms of drought act in synergy to significantly increase the extent and severity of fires in the Amazon. “Meteorological drought, with its rapid onset, can trigger favorable conditions for fire,” he points out, “while hydrological drought, by reducing soil and vegetation moisture, creates a highly flammable environment.”
“It is essential to implement early warning systems based on continuous monitoring of groundwater, climate indices, and hydrological and meteorological drought indicators,” recommends Conicelli. “Technological tools, such as the GRACE and TRMM satellites, play a crucial role in providing real-time data, allowing for the prediction of critical events, such as prolonged droughts and increased risk of fires.”
“In addition, sustainable land management should be prioritized, with measures to reduce deforestation and promote agricultural practices that conserve the soil and native vegetation,” suggests the professor. “Another important point is the need to invest in environmental education to sensitize local communities to the impacts of climate change and engage them in conservation practices.”
An interdisciplinary team of researchers carried out the work, including Naomi Toledo, Gabriel Moulatlet, Gabriel Gaona, Bryan Valencia, Ricardo Hirata, and Bruno Conicelli, who signed the article. The participating institutions were the Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam (Ecuador), the University of Arizona (USA), and the Groundwater Research Center (CEPAS-USP) of the IGc (Brazil).
