Results have emerged from analyzing the damage caused by the wildfire that occurred on the 21st through artificial satellites.
Telepix, a satellite total solutions corporation, released its analysis of the wildfire damage that occurred nationwide from the 21st to the 23rd on the 25th, using data from the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager-II (GOCI-II), the European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-2 satellite, and the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS).
According to wildfire occurrence information released by the Korea Forest Service, a total of 48 wildfires occurred nationwide during this period. The damage was particularly significant in Sancheong County, Uiseong County, and Ulju County.
Telepix captured scenes of thick smoke rising from three areas on the Korean Peninsula during this period using the Geostationary Ocean Color Imager-II. The area affected by the wildfire was confirmed through the Sentinel-2 satellite. As of 11:15 a.m. on the 22nd, the wildfire damage area in Sancheong County was estimated at approximately 5.48 square kilometers. As of 6 p.m. on the 24th, Uiseong County sustained damage of about 108.47 square kilometers, and Ulju County was affected over an area of approximately 4.56 square kilometers.
An analysis of the ultraviolet aerosol index (UVAI) via the Geostationary Environment Monitoring Spectrometer (GEMS) showed a rapid increase in the index in the wildfire-affected areas, indicating the emission of absorptive aerosols, such as smoke and ash, in large quantities.
The Sustainable Earth Institute under Telepix noted that the humidity in the Yeongnam region where the wildfire occurred was generally lower than last year. According to Automated Weather Station (AWS) data, Uiseong County had a humidity level of 23%, which was particularly dry. Considering that the humidity in the west coast area at the same time reached 50% to 60%, this represents a significant difference. The moisture index of the soil in the An-gye-myeon area of Uiseong County also showed drier conditions compared to the same period last year.
Kim Ji-hee, head of the Imaging Science Research Team at Telepix, which conducted this analysis, said, "Relevant agencies are identifying the causes of this wildfire, which occurred simultaneously, as dry climate, below-average snowfall, and strong gusts. Telepix is also internally tracking correlations with past climate due to the suspected impact of climate change. Satellite data can comprehensively confirm air quality, weather conditions, and damage scale, providing significant help in identifying the causes of wildfires in each region. In the future, it could also serve as a basis for compensation and insurance decisions."