Satellite Monitoring of Wildfire Intensity and Wildfire-Induced Emissions of Climate-Active Gases and Aerosols in the Russian Far East

Satellite monitoring results were used to study various types of wildfires that affected six vegetation types (boreal coniferous forest, mid-latitude mixed and deciduous forests, bush, forest-tundra, grassland, and agricultural land) in the Russian Far East in the fire season (April–October) from 2020 to 2024. Areas of wildfires, as well as annual volumes of wildfire-induced emissions of carbon-containing gases CO, CO, CH, and fine aerosols PM, were calculated using the MCD64A1 data product on the basis of satellite data processing results. It was determined that 2021 was an abnormal year regarding the area affected by wildfires (90.2 thousand km). In 2024 there was a record volume of emissions of climate-active gases and fine aerosols caused by these fires, reaching 257.6 million tons. FRP (Fire Radiative Power) variations for fires within the territory of interest with different vegetation types were identified according to MCD14 satellite information product. The FRE (Fire Radiative Energy) indicator was calculated that allows us to assess fire energy released per time unit for burned areas with various vegetation types.