Join the ASI Research Cluster Natural Hazards & Society on 28 October for a seminar with Max van Gerrevink examining the severity of the 2026 European fire season beyond burned area. The seminar takes place at VU Amsterdam and online, with free lunch for in-person attendees.
Discover what made the 2026 European fire season exceptional, from record-breaking temperatures and widespread drought to extreme wildfire behaviour, and why wildfire severity cannot be measured by burned area alone.
The 2026 European fire season was marked by record-breaking summer temperatures and widespread drought, leaving landscapes unusually dry and highly flammable. These conditions contributed to rapid fire spread, more extreme fire behaviour and a total burned area well above the 20-year average.
But how extreme was the fire season really? In this seminar, Max van Gerrevink will explain why the severity of wildfires goes beyond the total area burned. He will explore how the timing and location of fires, carbon emissions and affected vegetation types contribute to our understanding of wildfire impacts.
About the speaker
Max van Gerrevink is a postdoctoral researcher at WUR and VU Amsterdam. His research focuses on how changing fire regimes influence northern forests, climate feedbacks and ecosystem resilience. He combines Earth observation, remote sensing, ecosystem modelling and climate data analysis to investigate the consequences of increasing wildfire activity.
This seminar is open to researchers, students and colleagues interested in natural hazards, climate change, wildfires and environmental science. No specialist knowledge is required, and everyone interested in the topic is welcome to join.
Participation is free, and lunch will be provided for attendees joining in person.
The seminar will take place at VU Amsterdam, IVM NU 08A46, with the option to participate online via Microsoft Teams.
If you are part of the Green Office or the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM), you may already have received a direct invitation via Microsoft Teams.
Please make sure to register, even if you have already received an invitation. When registering, indicate whether you will attend in person or online, and let us know about any dietary restrictions or allergies. This will help us plan the right amount of lunch and accommodate everyone's dietary needs.
Participants joining online will receive a Microsoft Teams link after registration.
About the Research Cluster
This seminar is organised as part of the ASI Research Cluster Natural Hazards & Society, involving Marleen de Ruiter, Caroline Jagtenberg and Elinor Meredith.
The cluster brings together research exploring natural hazards, their impacts and their interactions with society.
To learn more about the research conducted within the cluster, explore its activities and recent publications, including a 2026 publication by Meredith and colleagues in npj Natural Hazards here.
Read more about the ASI Research Cluster Natural Hazards & Society here.