Journal of the Korean earth science society (한국지구과학회지)

The Korean Earth Science Society (한국지구과학회)
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Variability and Changes of Wildfire Potential over East Asia from 1981 to 2020

1981-2020년 기간 동아시아 지역 산불 발생 위험도의 변동성 및 변화 특성

  • Lee, June-Yi (Research Center for Climate Sciences, Pusan National University) ;
  • Lee, Doo Young (Research Center for Climate Sciences, Pusan National University)
  • 이준이 (부산대학교 기후과학연구소) ;
  • 이두영 (부산대학교 기후과학연구소)
  • Received : 2022.01.25
  • Accepted : 2022.02.21
  • Published : 2022.02.28
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Abstract

Wildfires, which occur sporadically and irregularly worldwide, are distinct natural disturbances in combustible vegetation areas, important parts of the global carbon cycle, and natural disasters that cause severe public emergencies. While many previous studies have investigated the variability and changes in wildfires globally based on fire emissions, burned areas, and fire weather indices, studies on East Asia are still limited. Here, we explore the characteristics of variability and changes in wildfire danger over East Asia by analyzing the fire weather index for the 40 years-1981-2020. The first empirical orthogonal function (EOF) mode of fire weather index variability represents an increasing trend in wildfire danger over most parts of East Asia over the last 40 years, accounting for 29% of the total variance. The major contributor is an increase in the surface temperature in East Asia associated with global warming and multidecadal ocean variations. The effect of temperature was slightly offset by the increase in soil moisture. The second EOF mode exhibits considerable interannual variability associated with the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, accounting for 17% of the total variance. The increase (decrease) in precipitation in East Asia during El Nino (La Nina) increases (decreases) soil moisture, which in turn reduces (increases) wildfire danger. This dominant soil moisture effect was slightly offset by the temperature increase (decrease) during El Nino (La Nina). Improving the understanding of variability and changes in wildfire danger will have important implications for reducing social, economic, and ecological losses associated with wildfire occurrences.

전 세계 곳곳에서 산발적이고 불규칙적으로 발생하는 산불은 가연성 식생 지역에서 주요한 자연 변동성의 일환이면서 전 지구 탄소 순환에 중요한 역할을 하고, 공공 비상사태를 야기하는 심각한 자연재해이다. 산불 배출량, 연소 면적 및 산불기상지수를 활용한 산불 발생 위험도의 변동성 및 변화에 대한 연구가 전 세계 많은 지역에서 활발히 진행되고 있지만 동아시아 지역에 대한 연구는 아직 제한적이다. 본 연구는 1981년부터 2020년까지 지난 40년 기간 동안 산불기상지수 자료를 분석해 동아시아 지역 산불 위험도의 변동성 및 장기 변화 특성을 조사하였다. 동아시아 지역 산불 위험도의 첫 번째 주요 변동 모드는 전체 변동성의 29%를 설명하며, 대부분 지역에서 산불 발생 위험이 증가하고 있음을 나타낸다. 지구온난화 및 해양의 수 십년 주기 변동성과 연계되어 지표 기온이 상승하고 있는 것이 주요 원인이며, 이는 토양 수분의 상승 경향에 의해 그 효과가 다소 상쇄되고 있다. 두 번째 변동 모드는 엘니뇨-남방진동과 연계된 경년 변동성을 반영하며 전체 변동성의 17%를 설명한다. 엘니뇨(라니냐) 시기 동아시아 지역 강수량의 증가(감소)는 토양 수분을 증가(감소)시키며, 이에 따라 산불 위험이 감소(증가)하게 된다. 이는 지표 기온 상승(하강)에 의해 그 효과가 다소 상쇄된다. 산불 발생 위험도의 변동성 및 변화에 대한 이해와 예측을 증진하는 것은 그에 따른 피해를 저감하고 대비책을 마련하는 데 기여할 것이다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 과제는 부산대학교 기본연구지원사업(2년)에 의하여 연구되었음.

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