南半球極度乾燥 智利遭逢50年最嚴重森林 - 生態環境討論

南半球極度乾燥 智利遭逢50年最嚴重森林大火

建立於: 2017/02/09 上稿編輯: 鄒敏惠

摘譯自2017年2月6日ENS智利，聖地牙哥報導；姜唯編譯；蔡麗伶審校
智利發生50年來最嚴重的森林大火，從1月中至今陸續超過100起野火，延燒超過50萬公頃
土地。濃煙讓消防隊員難以控制火勢，整個智利中部和南部每天都有新的熱點出現。目前
包括消防員在內已經有11人死亡。部分野火波及國際鳥盟認定的重要鳥類與生物多樣性地
區。

智利總統巴舍萊（Michelle Bachelet）宣布全國進入緊急狀態。氣象學家表示，整個南
半球正經歷異常乾燥、風強的夏季，正是野火產生的絕佳環境。

http://imgur.com/rBEevE1.jpg
森林大火。本圖僅供示意用途。圖片來源：Kari Greer/U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Headquarters（CC BY 2.0）

森林運作中心（Forestry Operations Center, CONAF）主任Cristian Orellana說，火勢
一個晚上就擴散超過1萬公頃，延燒距離超過26公里，甚至大到飛機無法飛到上空撒水。

智利知名產酒區域的整個葡萄園都被摧毀。數千人被迫離開家園，1500多戶家庭被完全破
壞。

歐盟透過歐洲公民保護與人道救援總署（Directorate-General for European Civil
Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations）提供協助。創立於2001年的歐洲公民保
護機制（EU Civil Protection Mechanism）協調全歐國家級的公民保護當局，提供災後
立即援助。

EUCPM森林火災專家José Almovodovar搭直昇機視察過火災區域後表示，從未見過範圍如
此大、破壞如此嚴重的森林火災。

國際鳥盟智利分會（CODEFF）指出，火災使野生動物逃離森林、前往人居地區尋找糧食與
避難處。CODEFF已經動員志願者提供協助。

部分野火波及區域是國際鳥盟認定的重要鳥類與生物多樣性地區。全國的野生動物復健中
心都在治療鳥類、蛇，以及狐狸、豹和美洲獅等哺乳動物。

CODEFF發起幫燒傷動物搜集醫療補給品的活動，並和其他政府機關與非政府組織進入最偏
遠地區尋找受傷動物。

智利森林大火規模之大，從太空就可看到恩佩德拉多城附近有一條燒焦的痕跡。美國太空
總署科學家表示，今年智利的大火發生次數是2003至2016年乾季火災發生次數的10倍以上
。

http://imgur.com/RNqsbR3.jpg
2010年的智利野火，外太空也清晰可見。圖片來源：NASA（CC BY 2.0）

研究火災衛星資料15年之久的美國海軍研究實驗室氣象學家
Michael Fromm說：「在我看來這是前所未見的火災，濃煙量和飄散高度都非常驚人，火
勢遠超過該區域的一般火災。」



以下節錄原文:

'Extreme' Chilean Wildfires Worst in Decades
SANTIAGO, Chile, February 6, 2017 (ENS)
In Chile’s worst fire disaster in 50 years, the South American country has
lost over half a million hectares to more than 100 wildfires that first
flared up in mid-January. The blazes have frustrated firefighters’ efforts
to control them, with new hot spots emerging daily across the central and
southern regions.

Eleven fatalities have been reported, many of them firefighters.

Meteorologists say the entire Southern Hemisphere is experiencing an
unusually dry, windy summer, ideal conditions for wildfires to burn out of
control.

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has declared a national state of
emergency. As of today, 26 fires are more or less under control, but at least
six wildfires are still raging, according to the Forestry Operations Center,
CONAF.

Cristian Orellana, who manages CONAF in the central Chilean region of Maule
has been supervising the response to the largest fire in the country. “In a
single night, the fire spread over 10,000 hectares, covering 26 kilometers,”
he said.

“The heat was such that even planes couldn’t fly over to drop water,” said
Orellana.

Entire vineyards in Chile’s famous wine region have been destroyed.

Thousands of people have had to flee their homes, and over 1,500 houses have
been completely destroyed.

The European Union is offering assistance through its Directorate-General for
European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations.

Established in 2001, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, EUCPM, coordinates
national civil protection authorities across Europe to deliver immediate
assistance in the aftermath of a disaster.

“I have never seen such widespread damage and such a level of destruction,”
says José Almovodovar, an EUCPM expert in forest fires, after viewing the
region from a helicopter.

Wild animals are fleeing the forests towards inhabited areas in search of
food and shelter, says CODEFF, the BirdLife International affiliate in Chile,
which has mobilized volunteers to help them.

Some of the areas affected by the wildfires have been assessed as being
Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas by BirdLife International.

Wildlife rehabilitation centers across the country are treating birds, snakes
and mammals such as foxes, leopards and cougars.

CODEFF is running a campaign to collect medicines and medical supplies for
the treatment of burned animals.

CODEFF is coordinating with various government agencies and other NGOs to go
to the most remote areas in search of injured animals.

The fires can be seen from space, and their pattern includes a massive burn
scar near Empedrado. Scientists with the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, NASA say this year’s Chilean fires are 10 times more
numerous that those recorded during the dry seasons from 2003 to 2016.

“This is unprecedented from my perspective. The smoke plumes are huge in
abundance and altitude,” said Michael Fromm, a meteorologist with the U.S.
Naval Research Laboratory who has been studying satellite fire data for 15
years. “Fires have gotten much larger and much more energetic than typical
for that area.”


來源網址： https://goo.gl/7aoiWI

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