Recently, Portugal was hit by an extreme meteorological event leading to large fires. In addition to fire, one of the harmful effects of large fires is the deterioration of air quality, due to the immense smoke that is produced, with serious consequences for public health. Therefore, predicting the behavior of smoke resulting from forest fires is essential for implementing timely measures that lead to minimizing its effects on populations.
An innovative project, by researchers from CESAM and the Department of Environment and Planning of the University of Aveiro, called FIRESMOKE – Forest fire smoke behavior modeling system, is developing a prognosis system, based on a state prediction model weather and air quality, which also simulates the spread of fire, from the ground to the treetops, and assesses the risks to public health.
As a result of the project, a system for predicting smoke behavior and its impacts will be make available on the web. The availability of the forecast system is essential for the dissemination of the scientific knowledge produced, being an information tool for territorial managers and populations.
From a perspective of transferring knowledge to society, the results of project are available on the FIRESMOKE website, where you will also find explanatory documents on the use of the developed model and the methodologies used to create it. In this way, the results of the modeling system will be made available through a visualization tool, which will allow access to information on the progression of the fire, the concentrations of pollutants associated with it, as well as warnings of potential fire ignition.
The model created within the scope of the FIRESMOKE project is a fundamental tool to support the national strategy for preventing the risk of smoke in forest fires.