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GENERAL LYCEUM OF CHRISOUPOLI   CHRISOUPOLI   Kreeka

In the case of the fire incidents in the region of Eastern, during the summer season of 2023, we studied the effects of the fire incidents on the wider environment to understand if climate change is responsible for these incidents and to what extent. For the conduct of the research, we used satellite images produced by the sensors of various satellites, such as Sentinel 2, Sentinel 3 and Sentinel 5P through the EO Browser online platform.
The initial research focused on choosing the appropriate satellite images of these regions’ surface land before and after the fire, in order to accumulate the necessary information to observe and estimate the amount of burned area. The multiple comparison of different satellites images provided data for the observation of regional surface soil and the change of flora before and after the burning, as well as the atmospheric emissions of gaseous pollutants such as CO caused by the intense fire. Eventually, to study the possible connection of the incidents of fire to the climate change, there were research of moisture and temperature level of the soil during the same month of the last two years at least.

Based on images from Sentinel 2 on the regions’ surface land before and after the fire, the estimated amount of burned area is about 8.2 km^2 (image1). Image 2 on the 23rd of August, the only accessible satellite image of the fire, small fires still exist ant their smoke has covered the area. The impact on the environment is clear by comparing the images 3 with the index of moisture, vegetation, and atmospheric penetration level as they indicate the dramatic change on the regional surface soil and flora before and after the burning. Moreover, timelapses of images (timelapse 1, timelapse 2) of the last two years provide an obvious optical proof of the damage caused by the fire.
According to the atmospheric emissions of gaseous pollutants caused by the intense fire, images from Sentinel 5p, show it was a distinct rise of CO (image 4) to the area of interest which lasted a few days, NO2 was high for 2 days and O3 appeared in a median level.
Eventually, to study the possible connection of the incidents of fire to the climate change, we compared moisture and temperature level of the soil during the same month of the last two years with images from Sentinel 3. Specifically, we have certainly noticed that before the incidents of fire in these places the temperature was almost 10 degrees below than the one, they had shown at the most recent date which is the date when the fire broke out (image 5). On dates 21-08-2021 and 21-08 2023 (graph 1a, graph 1b), the statistics truly showcase the modification of the temperature on the surface of those regions. Therefore, we could assume that there is a connection between the rise of the temperature due to the climate change and the fire outbreak.

The actions we propose to make difference and help lessen the problem are:
Community Preparation
– Establish community-based wildfire preparation programs, including evacuation plans and communication strategies.
– Conduct regular drills and exercises to ensure that citizens know how to respond effectively in the event of a wildfire.
Forest Management
– Implement sustainable forest management practices
– Encourage landowners to maintain defensible space around their properties by clearing brush and dead vegetation.
Policy and Regulation
– Advocate for stronger environmental regulations
– Enforce laws against arson and irresponsible fire behavior.
Technology and Innovation
– Invest in advanced technologies for early detection and monitoring of wildfires, such as satellite imagery, drones, and remote sensors.
– Develop innovative firefighting techniques, including the use of drones for aerial firefighting and the deployment of fire-resistant materials in vulnerable areas.
Volunteer and Community Engagement
– Mobilize volunteers to participate in wildfire prevention efforts, such as clearing debris, monitoring fire-prone areas, and assisting with firefighting efforts.
– Foster a sense of community ownership and responsibility for protecting the environment.
Research and Collaboration
– Support scientific research on wildfire ecology, behavior, and mitigation strategies, collaborating with universities, research institutions, and government agencies.
– Facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration among stakeholders, including local communities, indigenous groups, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.
Education and Awareness
– Launch public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the causes and consequences of wildfires, including human activities, climate change, and forest management practices.
– Integrate environmental education into school curricula, teaching students about wildfire prevention, ecosystem restoration, and the importance of biodiversity.
From our perspective, we have opted to broaden the reach of these capabilities to other educational institutions and students by leveraging our study in our school website and YouTube platform (image Golden Minds on fire_actions). Additionally, we have shared our research findings with Public Authorities and local Fire Services.

https://blogs.sch.gr/lykchrys/archives/4484

GOLDEN-MINDS-ON-FIRE.pdf

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