CSIRO research has linked Australia's forest fires to climate change. 

For the first time, CSIRO experts have combined analysis of previous forest fire sites with eight drivers of fire activity including climate, fuel accumulation, ignition and management (prescribed burning).  

Thirty-two years of satellite data and 90 years of ground-based datasets from climate and weather observations, and simulated fuel loads for Australian forests, formed the basis of the research.

The advanced approach allowed researchers to identify climate change driven increases versus natural variability. 

“While all eight drivers of fire-activity played varying roles in influencing forest fires, climate was the overwhelming factor driving fire-activity,” says CSIRO scientist Dr Pep Canadell.  

“The results also suggest the frequency of forest megafires are likely to continue under future projected climate change.” 

Three of the four mega fire seasons in the past 90 years occurred after the year 2000.

Australia's mean temperature has increased by 1.4 degrees Celsius since 1910, with a rapid increase in extreme heat events, while rainfall has declined in the southern and eastern regions of the continent. 

Globally, fire activity is decreasing, however, the extent of forest fires in Australia is increasing.  

When comparing the first half (1988-2001) with the second half (2002-2018) of the record studied, the research showed that the average annual forest burned area in Australia increased 350 per cent, and 800 per cent when including 2019.

Comparing the same time period, the research showed a five-fold increase in annual average burned area in winter and a three-fold increase in Autumn, with Spring and Summer seeing a ten-fold increase.  

“In Australia, fire frequency has increased rapidly in some areas and there are now regions in the southeast and south with fire intervals shorter than 20 years. This is significant because it means some types of vegetation won't reach maturity and this could put ecosystems at risk,” Dr Canadell said.  

“Understanding these trends will help to inform emergency management, health, infrastructure, natural resource management and conservation.”