NH7.1/AS4.2/CL2.10

Wildfires, Weather and Climate (co-organized)
Convener: Mário Pereira  | Co-Conveners: Ricardo Trigo , Mike Wotton 
Oral Programme
 / Mon, 03 May, 08:30–10:15  / Room 4
Poster Programme
 / Attendance Mon, 03 May, 17:30–19:00  / Halls X/Y

This session will focus on specific wildfire aspects such as fire detection, fire behavior and fire consequences but is particularly is dedicated to the relation between atmospheric circulation and wildfires.

We are soliciting submissions concerning all aspects of fire occurrence and behavior related to weather and/or atmosphere and vegetation dynamics including such areas as i) recent techniques, methodologies and developments to detect active fires and fire scars and ii) fire impacts on the environment, in particular on the atmosphere and human health.

In addition the session is also devoted to both weather and climate/climate change, and their influence on wildfire activity. We welcome all submissions relating wildfires to weather and climate, and are particularly interested in synoptic and large scale studies (diagnosis/modeling) for different climates of the world, from the equatorial/tropical region to mid and high-latitudes, such as:

(i) The relation between equatorial/tropical weather systems, monsoons, El Nino and wildfires, particularly in Africa, Brazil, Indonesia and Australia.
(ii) The impact played by large-scale teleconnection patterns (e.g. NAO, PNA, PDO) in terms of the monthly and seasonal scales on mid-latitude wildfire activity in the the USA, Canada and Europe.
(iii) The impact of recent meteorological extreme events, namely heatwaves and droughts, in large wildfires in California and the Mediterranean countries (e.g. Portugal [2003], Spain [2005], France, Italy [2007], Greece [2007, 2009], California [2007, 2009]).
(iv) Possible changes of global and regional wildfire characteristics as a consequence of climate change.

We foresee a lively oral and poster session and look forward to your submissions on wildfires, weather and climate.