Since January, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) satellite says it’s detected over 72,000 fires in the Amazon rain forest, but this fire has been one of the worst to date and the smoke is actually visible from space. Not only that, but data shows a massive 83 percent increase in fires compared to 2018 over the same months.

On Monday, the smoke from the fires blocked the sun it was so thick in Sao Paulo.

“The smoke did not come from fires from the state of São Paulo, but from very dense and wide fires that have been going on for several days in Rondônia and Bolivia. The cold front changed the direction of the winds and transported this smoke to São Paulo.” Says Climatempo meteorologist Josélia Pegorim.

During Brazils dry season, wildfires do occur more often than you may think, however, this year has been some of the worst with 40,000 less than last year this time. With people lighting fires to try and illegally create land for cattle, it does not make things any better.

Inpe researcher Alberto Setzer told Reuters: “There is nothing abnormal about the climate this year or the rainfall in the Amazon region, which is just a little below average,

“The dry season creates the favourable conditions for the use and spread of fire, but starting a fire is the work of humans, either deliberately or by accident.”

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is being blamed by some conservationists, stating that he is allowing and encouraging loggers to clear the forests.

Deforestation and human activity has decreased the forests natural fire-resistance, naturally moist and humid, the forest should not burn at this rate.

NASA stated in a release that: “The intensity and frequency of droughts in turn, have been linked with increases in regional deforestation and anthropogenic climate change.”

It’s difficult to predict how long the forest has been ablaze but since the recent increase of over 9,500 blazes since Thursday it’s been a massive increase. Sadly, this number is likely to just get higher and higher in the up coming weeks.

Scientist Neil DeGrasse Tyson took to Instagram to express is disgust at how this has not been covered widely by mainstream media. So please do share this far and wide.

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