ELECTRONS OR PROTONS: WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF FOREST FIRES IN WESTERN EUROPE ON JUNE 18, 2017?

Authors

  • Milan Radovanović Geographical Institute ''Jovan Cvijic'' SASA, Belgrade
  • João Fernando Pereira Gomes Àrea Departamental de Engenharia Química do Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Lisbon
  • Anatoly A. Yamashkin N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University, Faculty of Geography, Saransk
  • Milan Milenković Geographical Institute ''Jovan Cvijic'' SASA, Belgrade
  • Milan Stevančević Former Federal Ministry of Telecommunications of the FR Yugoslavia, Belgrade

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI1702213R

Keywords:

forest fires, solar wind, solar activity, Portugal

Abstract

Forest fires in Portugal (June 17–24, 2017) destroyed 64 lives and caused considerable material damage. The coronal hole CH807 and the energy region S5710 were in the geoeffective position on the Sun immediately before the outbreak of fires. In the period that preceded it, as well as at the time of the fires, increased values of the solar wind (SW) parameters (temperature, speed and density of particles) were recorded. In addition, a geomagnetic disorder was recorded. The shape and size of the burning areas, as well as the low air pressure over Portugal indicate the possibility of the effect of positively charged particles that came from the area south, i.e. southwest of Portugal. Nevertheless, it is a specific case that would have to be investigated in more detail.

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References

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Published

2017-08-29

How to Cite

Radovanović, M., Pereira Gomes, J. F., Yamashkin, A. A., Milenković, M., & Stevančević, M. (2017). ELECTRONS OR PROTONS: WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF FOREST FIRES IN WESTERN EUROPE ON JUNE 18, 2017?. Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, 67(2), 213–218. https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI1702213R

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