After August saw a nine-year high in the number of fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest, garnering international attention, September saw a significant drop. But scientists aren't sure why.
Typically the peak of dry season, there are usually more fires in September in Brazil. But this year, there was a 35 percent drop in fires from the month before, and a 20 percent drop from September 2018, reports The Washington Post.
Scientists point to rain and Brazil's firefighting response as possible reasons for the surprising drop, according to the Post, but say it will take more time to determine the effect of the government interventions.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
And while fewer fires seems like progress, the number of Amazon fires from January through September 2019 was 43 percent greater than that of 2018.
Most of the fires are set by people looking for land to farm cattle or soy where forests are too difficult to destroy with bulldozers. Scientists are concerned that increasing deforestation could disrupt the ecosystem enough to transform parts of the largest rainforest in the world into an arid savanna. Read more at The Washington Post.
-
The Icelandic women’s strike 50 years onIn The Spotlight The nation is ‘still no paradise’ for women, say campaigners
-
Mall World: why are people dreaming about a shopping centre?Under The Radar Thousands of strangers are dreaming about the same thing and no one sure why
-
Why scientists are attempting nuclear fusionThe Explainer Harnessing the reaction that powers the stars could offer a potentially unlimited source of carbon-free energy, and the race is hotting up
-
Renewables top coal as Trump seeks reversalSpeed Read For the first time, renewable energy sources generated more power than coal, said a new report
-
China vows first emissions cut, sidelining USSpeed Read The US, the world’s No. 2 emitter, did not attend the New York summit
-
At least 800 dead in Afghanistan earthquakespeed read A magnitude 6.0 earthquake hit a mountainous region of eastern Afghanistan
-
Massive earthquake sends tsunami across PacificSpeed Read Hundreds of thousands of people in Japan and Hawaii were told to evacuate to higher ground
-
FEMA Urban Search and Rescue chief resignsSpeed Read Ken Pagurek has left the organization, citing 'chaos'
-
Wildfires destroy historic Grand Canyon lodgeSpeed Read Dozens of structures on the North Rim have succumbed to the Dragon Bravo Fire
-
Search for survivors continues after Texas floodsSpeed Read A total of 82 people are confirmed dead, including 28 children
-
EPA is reportedly killing Energy Star programspeed read The program for energy-efficient home appliances has saved consumers billions in energy costs since its 1992 launch
