More than twice the acreage burned in 2023 compared to the previous record-holder. Last year's fires persisted through the winter, now detected by satellite sensors.
"We are certainly seeing a lag effect of last year's severe fire season... many dozens of overwintering fires that continued to smoulder through the winter are providing additional ignition sources," said climate researcher Merritt Turetsky.
Overwintering fires are not new, resembling coal fires that can burn for years. They are prominent this year, often in dry forests with large biomass, but can even smolder in moist peat.
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