Science14 hOctober 18, 2026, 08:14

NASA spots hidden fires burning beneath the Amazon rainforest

NASA satellites have recorded a sharp rise in fires and smoke across the central and eastern Amazon since September 2026, driven by El Niño-linked drought. Fine particulate levels in Manaus exceeded 135 micrograms per cubic meter, forcing school closures and event cancellations. Scientists expect the fires to spread north in November–December and peak in the southern Amazon by August 2027.

ScienceDaily

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PM2.5 in Manaus topped 135 µg/m³, the second-worst level on the regional air quality index
Nearly all fires in the Brazilian Amazon are human-started; lightning causes under 1%
Fire risk may reach Roraima, Amapá and Venezuela in November–December 2026
Peak danger in the southern Amazon and Paraguay is expected in August–September 2027

#NASA

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