NASA Observes Indonesian Peat Fires Burning Underground
Indonesia’s wildfires are releasing unusually large amounts of pollution as fires burn through dried peatlands on Borneo and Sumatra, with some continuing below the surface after visible flames disappear. NASA observations detail the erratic behavior of the blazes. At the same time, satellite-based emissions data indicate that Indonesia has become the world’s largest source of […]
NASA has observed Indonesian peat fires burning underground, releasing unusually large amounts of pollution. These fires are burning through dried peatlands on Borneo and Sumatra, with some continuing below the surface after visible flames disappear. According to Copernicus, the European Union's climate monitoring agency, Indonesia's fires released an estimated 19.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from September 1 through September 7, accounting for more than one-third of global wildfire emissions during this period and being 273% above Indonesia's seasonal average.
Peat consists of partially decomposed plant material that accumulates in waterlogged environments, and when the water table is lowered for agricultural or plantation development, the organic material dries and becomes fuel, making the peatlands more vulnerable to fires.
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