It's Hard To Tell How Much Of The Amazon Is Burning

The Amazon rainforest is experiencing a significant increase in fires compared to 2018, as reported by Brazil's Space Agency. Satellites are crucial for detecting these fires but have limitations in tracking their progression and measuring their size in real-time. The EU's Copernicus program highlights these challenges, noting that satellite data can take days to update. Despite this, experts use satellite imagery to track fire hotspots and assess impacts beyond the burned area, such as smoke spread, which now covers much of Brazil and extends across South America.

By what percentage have the Amazon fires increased compared to 2018?

• 75%

• 50%

• 100%

• 83%

What is the primary tool used to get an overview of the Amazon fires?

• Ground surveys

• Drones

• Orbiting satellites

• Weather balloons

Why can't satellites provide real-time geographical size of fires?

• They lack the necessary technology

• They can't revisit the same location frequently

• They are too far from Earth

• They are affected by weather conditions

How can satellite imagery help in understanding the extent of fires?

• By counting the number of trees burned

• By providing real-time data

• By comparing images from different times

• By measuring the temperature of fires

What additional information do satellites provide about the fires?

• The exact number of fires

• The amount of rainfall in the area

• The path of smoke from the fires

• The types of trees affected