Every wildfire releases CO₂. But did you know that in areas with permafrost—such as Canada, Siberia, and Alaska—this is compounded by even larger emissions? The heat causes the permanently frozen ground to thaw, releasing stored carbon in the form of greenhouse gases.

This creates a vicious cycle: additional emissions lead to further warming, while heat waves and drought increase the risk of lightning strikes causing fires. We must—and can—break this cycle.

With your support, researchers can better predict where and when these fires will occur, detect them earlier, and thus help limit additional emissions.

“If you can detect a smoldering fire earlier, you might be able to arrive in time before it starts to spread rapidly. You can then get there in time and deploy the right equipment to extinguish the fire.”

Predicting and detecting lightning-caused fires earlier
Earth system scientist Sander Veraverbeke is conducting research on this topic at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. By using new satellite technology, it’s possible to detect emerging fires more quickly and accurately. This is important because, after a lightning strike, a fire can smolder underground for hours or even days before flames become visible. It is precisely during this period that there is an opportunity to intervene.

Only one in a thousand lightning strikes causes a wildfire that grows into a massive source of CO2 emissions. Why that one in particular? Sander is investigating which combination of drought, vegetation, and weather conditions causes a fire to start. With this knowledge, researchers can better predict which lightning strikes pose a risk and where rapid intervention is needed. In this way, they can help prevent a nascent fire from spreading further.

What happens after the fire?
Even after the flames have been extinguished, the consequences of a wildfire can persist for years. Sander is studying what happens to the permafrost and the carbon stored in the soil after a fire. “You can compare it to a freezer being opened," says Sander. "Old organic material is stored in the soil. When it thaws, it begins to decompose, and even more greenhouse gases can be released—sometimes for years after a wildfire.”

To better understand this process, Sander and his team are conducting field research in the vast permafrost regions of North America.

Take action for a livable future

“My climate dream is to combat global warming by predicting lightning-caused wildfires. By better understanding which lightning-caused wildfires pose a major risk and how we can intervene in time, we can help limit additional emissions.”

- Sander Veraverbeke

Your donation brings this dream one step closer. An average donation of 250 euros can fund one day of fieldwork in a permafrost region. There, researchers measure the effects of wildfires on the permafrost, how much greenhouse gases are released, and how deep the soil remains frozen.

Combined with research on predicting and detecting lightning-caused fires, this is yielding more and more knowledge to enable earlier and more targeted intervention.


Help break the vicious cycle of climate change and support this research by Sander Veraverbeke. Thank you in advance for your contribution!