A Temporal Analysis of Wildfires in Spain Through the Use of Multi-Database Research

In recent decades, there has been a marked increase in the frequency of natural disasters on a global scale. This increase is particularly notable in the context of climatological disasters, such as wildfires, which have become increasingly prevalent and intense in past years. It is evident that as the planet experiences the repercussions of climate change, the severity of these fires will intensify. The present study focuses on the analysis of wildfires that have occurred in Spain in recent years, both in terms of their number and the area affected, using data collected from the national and international databases. Since the beginning of this century, there has been an increasing trend in the number of large wildfires (>500 ha) in this country. In contrast, there has been a decline in the overall number of wildfires. However, when analyzing a more extended period, spanning from 1970 onward, these trends become less discernible. The study also analyzes the differences between some of these databases and notes that, despite the fact that certain databases offer exhaustive documentation of burned areas, others exhibit specific limitations due to a variety of factors. These limitations may include the nature of the recorded data, the resolution of wildfire detection or wildfire perimeter identification detection systems, or the recent initiation of data collection for such events. The development of strategies based on historical data and predictive models is necessary for anticipating future scenarios and mitigating the impacts of wildfires.