Brennen Brothers, news editor
Since Jan. 15 a wildfire has spread across Amsterdam Island, which is located between Australia, Antarctica and Madagascar, and it has burned more than 50% of it. The fire was discovered by a scientist researching the atmosphere, states the BBC. They continued to write that the island doesn’t have a permanent population, as researchers have been stationed there instead. In total, 31 people were evacuated to Réunion Island by a lobster fishing boat, the Austral, the following day.
According to France24, the fire started for unknown reasons near the Pointe Bénédicte observatory. Due to strong winds and dry weather, the fire continued to spread southward to the research base at Martin-de-Viviès. A mission was planned for the week of Feb. 10 and consists of seven of France’s French Southern and Atlantic Islands (TAAF) personnel, a doctor and four firefighters. They planned to measure the fire, identify hotspots and assess the damage done to the facilities. Any needed repairs will require significant costs and a lot of time due to the fires’ location.
The RFI shares a quote from the prefecture for TAAF stating that due to the remote location of the island “the fire is being allowed to burn, as there is no way to extinguish it at the moment […] The base has been affected. The buildings are still standing but water supply and telecommunications infrastructure is no longer operational.”
The BBC states that conservationists have expressed concern about the impact on wildlife. Due to the remote location, there is a lack of pollution so the island is used to research changes in the atmosphere and how it would affect the climate. France24 added that the vegetation is unique with the presence of the Phylica arborea shrub. France’s Laboratory for Climate and Environmental Sciences, a monitoring center on Amsterdam Island, is used for measurements of air, gasses and air pollution. The center’s Head Marc Delmotte said to France24, “The island’s geographical location, its isolation and the low level of human activity mean that measurements can be taken in a particularly ‘clean’ environment.”
Delmotte continued, stating that the atmospheric concentrations which consist of “carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone” are recorded every second. Data is compiled from a network of 20 stations that monitor greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
Amsterdam Island is a known Unesco World Heritage site. The island is home to many seabirds, which include the Amsterdam albatross and the Indian Yellow-nosed albatross. Other animals include Southern elephants, Sub-antarctic fur seals and Southern rockhopper penguins, shares Modern Ghana.
Amsterdam Island is a known Unesco World Heritage site. The island is home to many seabirds, which include the Amsterdam albatross and the Indian Yellow-nosed albatross.
Modern Ghana
Delmotte shared with the BBC, “It will take time and money to return to normal and this pause will mean quite a lack of data acquisition for our research.” France24 adds that no measurements have been taken since the fire broke out. This is the first time this has occurred since 1981. Delmotte says that due to the interruption in the readings, it’s a “very unfortunate loss of data.” He hopes the interruption will be “as brief as possible.”