The Battle Against Megafires
Apostolos Voulgarakis
Associate Professor and AXA Chair in Wildfires and Climate Change at the Technical University of Crete
There’s no doubt: we are entering a new era marked by increasingly frequent catastrophic wildfires, the so called ‘megafires’. From Australia and the Amazon to Siberia and Greece, every region on the globe has experienced unprecedented wildfires in the past decade. But why is this happening?
Join Professor Apostolos Voulgarakis as we delve into this phenomenon and its implications for our planet.
What you will learn
What megafires are
Why they are rapidly increasing
Their impact on the planet
How we can act to prevent their deadly impacts
| Video
The masterclasss in 3 main chapters
Chapter 1
Why have we entered the era of megafires?
| Video
First, we need to define ‘megafires’. Even if the emerging term does not have a strict definition, we can already classify some fires in this category.
When does a fire become a megafire, and what are their specific causes? What has sparked this new era of megafires?
Chapter 2
What is the impact of megafires on the planet?
| Video
Did you know that both the World Health Organization and the World Bank have recognized "megafires" as a significant cause for concern?
This is due to the profound environmental devastation they cause, as well as their substantial impacts on human health and the economy.
Let's examine these diverse and devastating impacts of megafires.
Chapter 3
How can we better manage megafires?
| Video
The World Economic Forum has characterised the need for better wildfire prediction tools as ‘urgent’.
In the face of this major challenge, recent scientific knowledge is essential to better prevent risks and evaluate upcomong catasrophes.
But different approaches are needed to understand how to fight megafires and keep the battle against them going...
Explore other episodes of MasterSciences
Biological invasions: The Unseen Threat
Franck Courchamp
2023.10.20
19mn | Masterclass
Closing the Gender Gap in Business
Anne Boring
2023.07.23
15mn | Masterclass
Building Coastal Resilience with Nature
Mike Beck
2023.05.23
30mn | Masterclass
MasterScience
MasterScience is a masterclass program designed to help you understand how science contributes to the progress of society.
Learn more