THEME: WILDFIRES - Copernicus Browser

 THEME: WILDFIRES
SATELLITE: Sentinel-2 L2A

 

INDEX: True color

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image we can see the burned areas depicted in dark brown, in December 2016.

In contrast, on the right, in December 2024 respectively, the areas that had suffered this devastating fire appear to be now overgrown.

 

INDEX: false color

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image, in November 2016, the burned areas have now lost their natural color. Consequently, the plants do not absorb the red color. In other words, in the image these areas are depicted in dark brown, while all the remaining areas in various tones of red.

On the contrary, in the right image, in the same month of 2024, respectively, the plants have acquired their natural color and absorb the red. Thus, now all of Thassos is depicted in various tones of red.

 

INDEX: Atmospheric penetration

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image, in December 2016, we can see the burnt areas in dull blue, while the dense vegetation is depicted in bright blue.

In contrast, in the right image, in December 2024, the burnt areas returned to their natural vegetation and thus the entire island is depicted in bright blue.

 

INDEX: Burned Areas Detection

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image we notice that the burned areas are depicted in red, November 2016. Furthermore, 3 points of burned areas are visible.

On the contrary, in the right image, now after 8 years the burned areas are not visible in Copernicus. We notice that over time our island has been reforested.

INDEX: Moisture Index

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image, December 2016, it is easily understood that in the burned areas, there is intense drought, due to high temperatures and minimal rainfall. Thus, the burned areas appear in an orange-red color.

While, in the right image, in the same month of 2024, the same areas have returned to their natural levels. This is understood based on the image, since the majority of the areas are depicted in blue.

 

INDEX: Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR)

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image, December 2016, we can see in dark red the 3 points of burnt areas.

In contrast, in the same month of 2024, all of Thassos is depicted in orange.

 

INDEX: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION:

In the left image, in December 2016, the burned areas are distinguished with a light green, due to the minimal vegetation, due to the devastating fire a few months ago.

In contrast, in the right image, in December 2024, an intense green color is observed almost throughout Thassos. Thus, we understand that there is reforestation in the burned areas.

 

INDEX: SWIR Short wave infrared composite

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION

In the left image, December 2016, the lack of water in the burned areas is depicted in dark brown, while the overgrown areas are depicted in green.

In contrast, in the right image, December 2024, all areas are now depicted in green.

 

INDEX: Wildfires

COMMENTS – OBSERVATION

The image on the left, December 2016, shows the island of Thassos in natural colors. More specifically, the areas that have suffered the devastating fire are depicted in brown colors.

In the image on the right, December 2024, the burned areas after 8 years are also depicted in green colors, due to natural reforestation.

 

GROUND DATA:

On 10.09.2016 early Saturday morning, the island of Thassos received after a dry storm approximately 90-100 lightning strikes, without the presence of rain.

A dry storm occurs when there is too much drought and the humidity is below 50%.

It is worth noting that the last rain on the island was 21.05.2016 and not on the entire island.

There were strong winds of intensity above 6-7 Beaufort with a main direction northeast, locally and depending on the morphology of the terrain they became north, east, southeast and south. In fact, the winds, in addition to the rapid spread they cause, limit the extinguishing capacity of aerial vehicles by not allowing them to approach.

Thus, the strong wind and the great drought of the summer, contributed to the lightning that fell to the ground for over 45 minutes creating 4 fire fronts on the island.

One in Aliki Theologos, one in Valanida Prinos, one in the Castle of Limenaria and one in Trikorfo Theologos.

The image down shows the 3 fire fronts after 5 days from the outbreak of the fire. Image was taken from the Copernicus of the Fire Department, that day.

Despite the great mobilization of the Fire Department with 170 firefighters, 73 vehicles, 53 people on foot, volunteers, 7 Canadair airplanes, 2 PZL, 2 ERICSSON, CHINOOK and MILMI-26 helicopters, the fire fronts took on enormous proportions and burned over 20% of the island's area, i.e. more than 75,000 acres. In small and large Kazaviti, which were evacuated, more than 13 houses burned down and in Thymonia and Aliki, the tourist units suffered major damage.

Fortunately, there were no human casualties or injuries, but many birds and wild animals were lost, trapped by the fiery fronts of the Fire.

Finally, after a devastating 3-day effort, the fire was contained and demarcated by the Fire Service, which, however, continued to fight re-ignitions in inaccessible areas of the island for another 9 days (until 22.09.2016).

However, the island of Thassos, after the devastating fires of 2016, also suffered devastating floods because its mountains were stripped bare because their trees burned and could not retain the water of the rainfall.

After more than 8 years and with natural reforestation without human intervention, the island is once again regaining its beautiful and useful forest.

Therefore, let us all hope and try to protect our green island from other such disasters in the future.

Some of the elements of the text were taken from Fire Chief Nikolaos Nikolopoulos, former commander of the Fire Brigade of Thassos.