Search results

13 results

Progress towards halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010

This report assesses farmland, forests, freshwater ecosystems, marine and coastal systems, wetlands of international importance and mountain ecosystems in order to provide evidence of progress — or lack of progress — towards the 2010 target of halting the loss of biodiversity.

European forests — ecosystem conditions and sustainable use

Overall weather-driven forest fire danger in the present, and under two climate change scenarios

Climate change assessment of the Fire Weather Index (FWI) aggregated component, computed daily from 1980 to 2100 for five models (see Table 4 of de Rigo et al., 2017 https://doi.org/10.2760/13180 ). The daily FWI is computed for each scenario realisation based on a corresponding model. The entire time series has been estimated (from the end of the control period, the scenario RCP8.5 has been used) and the 90 % quantile of each time period has been computed. The median of the five model ensemble is shown for each period.

Projected Forest fire risk in Europe

Forest fire risk calculated for baseline period (1961-1990) and 2041-2070 (A1B emission scenario).

Projected changes in fire danger

Fire danger is expressed by the Seasonal Severity Rating (SSR). Based on projections by the Regional Climate Model (RCM) RACMO2 driven by the Global Climate Model (GCM) ECHAM5 for the SRES A1B emission scenario. Left: projected change in SSR by 2071–2100 as compared to 1961–1990 baseline period; Right: projected annual average SSR in 2071–2100.

Wet and dry — fire weather

Most wildfires in Europe are started by human activities but climatic conditions determine their intensity and impact. Soaring temperatures, tinder-dry forests and gusting winds are trademark fire weather conditions. Raging wildfires and choking smoke are a growing threat to human lives, property and energy infrastructure in Europe. They can also affect water quality, threaten biodiversity, release large amounts of greenhouse gases, cause soil erosion and spoil the landscape. Yet wildfires can also do some good, reducing insect populations and the amount of fuel available for future fires, which sometimes helps to restore balance to fragile forest ecosystems adapted to wildfires.

What could the summer bring? Is extreme weather the new normal?

Under our changing climate, the weather in Europe is getting more extreme. What could this summer bring in terms of heatwaves, droughts, floods, and forest fires? The overall outlook is pessimistic as we have already seen this past winter and spring. This makes adaptation to climate change and better preparedness crucial, according to a European Environment Agency extreme weather product published today, which explains the top weather-related climate challenges we face.

Forest fire in Sweden

Burnt area scars in Sweden in the 2014 fire season, and perimeter of the Västmanland fire

Urban areas at risk of forest fire

The map provides an overview of the extent of urban areas at higher risk of being directly affected by forest fires (burning down) under current conditions.

Current and projected state and trend of fire danger

Forest fire danger is expressed by the average Seasonal Severity Rating index (derived from the Canadian Fire Weather Index System). Average 2071-2100 SSR levels are shown in the map. The SSR series was computed usign the GCM-RCM run KNMI-RACMO2-ECHAM5 of ENSEMBLES project.

Burnt area in European countries

Data are supplied by the countries for the annual reports "Forest Fires in Europe, Middle East and North Africa 20nn" series.

Europe's forests at a glance — a breath of fresh air in a changing climate

Forests do not only provide us food, fibre and medicine, they regulate our climate and improve our quality of life. Human activities and climate change exert increasing pressure on our forest resources and the services they provide. With increasing demand on forests services on the one side, and uncertainty and risks linked to climate change on the other, we need to ensure that forests can continue fulfilling their multifunctional role.

Mapping the impacts of natural hazards and technological accidents in Europe

The report assesses the occurrence and impacts of disasters and the underlying hazards such as storms, extreme temperature events, forest fires, water scarcity and droughts, floods, snow avalanches, landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes and technological accidents in Europe for the period 1998-2009.