Sources
The dataset belongs to NASA FIRMS (Fire Information for Resource Management System), filtered for the region of Australia. The dataset records satellite-based thermal anomalies from MODIS from the Terra and Aqua satellites. The dataset contains location (latitude and longitude), fire radiative power (FRP), brightness, detection confidence, satellite ID, time of day, etc. These measurements show both a temporal and spatial picture of fire events for August and September 2019.
We chose this topic because the 2019-2020 Australian bushfires, referred to as “Black Summer”, provide a significant case study about how environmental disaster intertwines with climate change, data visibility, and political action. FIRMS data provides an avenue to understand the phenomenon spatially and temporally, as we can examine the patterns of fire activity during a particularly high-risk season, still considering how these events were documented, visualized and understood. It allows for examination of fire activity patterns during a pre-peak temporal window, thus providing both a technical and interpretive understanding of fire behaviour.
Processing
We cleaned and converted the dataset from CSV to Excel, and used Tableau to create our visualizations. We narrowed the dataset to some key variables per, Acq Date, Acq Time, Daynight, Satellite, Instrument, Brightness, Bright T31, Confidence, Frp, Latitude, and Longitude, to further capture some of the structure and timing of the fire activity. Based on these variables, we could describe the patterning of fire intensities, differences in satellite detections, and some temporal-spatial dimensions.
The visualizations we generated included bar charts, scatter plots, heatmaps, and cumulative graphs all emphasizing different aspects of fire frequency, timing, and product intensity. We also mapped the distances of fire activity using the geographic coordinates available to us from the dataset across Australia.
Overall in this analytical journey we aimed for clarity and accessibility of the patterns by making them simple to interpret while also thinking critically about how all of our interpretation of data decisions reflect our human choices. Instead of thinking about fire data as neutral, we wanted to visualize the potential questions and conceptualize the views that it will never capture.
Presentation
The end product is a web-based mini-site of narrative analysis, interactive visualizations and critical contextualization. We embedded our visualizations in an annotated narrative (~2,500 words) that frames fire data in larger questions of climate, governance, and historical erasure.
We treat visualizations as more than illustrations, but arguments as claims about evidence and perception. The structured of our site is layered: timeline ➝ visuals ➝ map ➝ critique ➝ bibliography ➝ about.
Annotated Bibliography
https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51020564
Tariq, Aqil, Hong Shu, Qingting Li, Orhan Altan, Mobushir Riaz Khan, Muhammad Fahad Baqa, and Linlin Lu. “Quantitative Analysis of Forest Fires in Southeastern Australia Using SAR Data.” MDPI, June 18, 2021. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/12/2386.
Tariq et al. propose that synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite data provides a more reliable technical means for measuring the extent and intensity of Australian bushfires, better overcoming the interference of smoke and clouds on traditional optical images. The authors validated the feasibility and reliability of this approach by comparing SAR fire maps with ground-based monitoring data and conventional optical satellite imagery. This research is important in that it has the potential to improve existing technical methods to serve society better, and it also demonstrates the potential of cutting-edge remote sensing technology to be applied in fire monitoring and damage assessment. In my project, it provides a case study of how technology can enhance disaster data collection and decision support, but it does not systematically explore the human or ecological consequences of fires.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27423-1
Haque, K.M.S., Uddin, M., Ampah, J.D. et al. Wildfires in Australia: a bibliometric analysis and a glimpse on ‘Black Summer’ (2019/2020) disaster. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 73061–73086 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-27423-1
Haque et al. argue that following the “Black Summer,” academic and societal attention toward Australian bushfires has significantly increased, becoming one of the primary focal points in global environmental research.The authors analyze the number of publications, citation trends, and keyword distribution to provide quantitative evidence for this claim. The significance of this study is that it reveals the impact of heightened attention to environmental issues in the aftermath of extreme disasters on the research agenda and contributes to a broader discussion in the policy-making process. In my thesis, this analysis provides a solid foundation for arguing that the “Black Summer” served as a turning point in both academic and public agendas, while also helping to elucidate the interactive relationship between scientific and societal concerns. I believe this article is well-written, utilizing a substantial body of academic research to support its arguments.
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/12/2386
Rannard, Georgina. “Australia Fires: Misleading Maps and Pictures Go Viral.” BBC News, January 7, 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51020564.
Rannard pointed out that during the “Black Summer” bushfires in Australia, many fire maps and images widely circulated in the media had a significant tendency to be exaggerated or misrepresented, thus preventing the public from obtaining accurate information about the fires. In support of this argument, the authors provide ample evidence by analyzing numerous viral cases on social media and comparing them with official satellite observations. The value of this article is in highlighting visual information distortion and revealing how it distorts the public’s understanding and emotional response to environmental disasters. In my thesis, this research can help to illustrate the challenges of ensuring the accuracy of visual information in post-disaster communication and the negative impacts of misleading images on societal risk perceptions; however, it does not delve into the long-term impacts of this type of information on policy or community response, and people would need further tracking will be needed if this type of misleading information continues to be disseminated.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17477891.2012.703490?casa_token=yWv-bAP81hgAAAAA%3A8CrGAWQ522HUPCgFKJzEsyYYRQMKbZe90zXVLAnyva9U4K1SfxEKIrCJRucJuaDT9YNElN3L4Q
Estimating the economic, social and environmental impacts of wildfires in Australia: Environmental hazards: Vol 12 , no 2 – get access. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17477891.2012.703490.
The research topic of this paper is the multiple consequences of bushfires in Australia, focusing on their combined impacts at the economic, social and environmental levels. The authors point out that, in addition to direct property damage, the losses caused by fires include community mental health problems, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss; furthermore, the study emphasizes the complexity and long-term nature of post-disaster recovery by combining historical case studies with economic model estimates to assess the impacts of the disaster in both the short- and long-term perspectives. This is significant for my thesis as it provides a methodological framework for measuring the comprehensive losses of disasters and helps me better connect fires with long-term social impacts. A limitation is that the study was published earlier and does not cover the increasingly frequent and extreme major fire cases in recent years.
https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=110099
Haque, Md. Kamrul, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, Md. Yeamin Hossain, Tareq Ahmed, Minhaz Uddin, and Md. Mukhtar Hossain. “Wildfire in Australia during 2019-2020, Its Impact on Health, Biodiversity and Environment with Some Proposals for Risk Management a Review.” SCIRP, June 11, 2021. https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation?paperid=110099.
This paper reviews the severe damage caused by the 2019–2020 “Black Summer” wildfires to public health, biodiversity, and the environment, and discusses post-disaster risk assessment and management strategies. The authors point out that wildfires not only increase the incidence of respiratory diseases and exacerbate the threat to endangered species, but also have far-reaching effects on environmental elements such as soil and water quality. Furthermore, a systematic literature review recommends strengthening pre-disaster prevention, improving emergency response, and enhancing management during the recovery phase. It is important for my thesis since it allows me to further enrich the analysis of fire impacts from a health and ecological perspective. A limitation is that the research primarily relies on literature reviews for argumentation, lacking field investigations or large-scale data support.
https://www.pnas.org/doi/epdf/10.1073/pnas.2002269117
Lindenmayer, David B., and Chris Taylor. “New Spatial Analyses of Australian Wildfires Highlight the Need for New Fire, Resource, and Conservation Policies.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 117, no. 22 (May 18, 2020): 12481–85. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002269117.
The theme of this paper is to use novel spatial analysis methods to study the distribution patterns and ecological impacts of wildfires in Australia, and to propose recommendations for updating fire management and nature conservation policies based on these findings. The author uses geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing data to the spatial relationship between fire distribution and ecologically fragile areas while emphasizing the important role of scientific data in policy-making. This is valuable for my thesis because it demonstrates how to translate scientific research findings into policy recommendations and helps me build a logical chain from scientific discovery to policy implementation. A limitation is that the article’s limited scope lacks in-depth exploration of how specific policies can be implemented and the social and political challenges they face.
https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/4/3/61
Fletcher, Michael-Shawn, Anthony Romano, Simon Connor, Michela Mariani, and Shira Yoshi Maezumi. “Catastrophic Bushfires, Indigenous Fire Knowledge and Reframing Science in Southeast Australia.” MDPI, September 9, 2021. https://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/4/3/61.
This paper explores the insights and value of Indigenous traditional fire management knowledge for modern science and disaster management. The author argues that combining indigenous generations of fire management experience with modern scientific methods can help better prevent fires and protect ecosystems. The article uses historical documents and cultural evidence to argue for the role of non-Western knowledge systems in modern management. This is inspiring for my thesis because it encourages me to think about fire management from a cross-cultural perspective and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the diversity of disaster governance. The limitation is that the research is mostly conceptual discussion and lacks quantitative or empirical research support.
https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/abstract/S0169-5347(23)00188-X
Revitalising Indigenous Cultural Fire Practice: Benefits and partnerships: Trends in ecology & evolution. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://www.cell.com/trends/ecology-evolution/abstract/S0169-5347(23)00188-X.
This paper has focused on the ecological and social benefits that restoring indigenous cultural fire management may bring, and explores the importance of cross-departmental cooperation. The author analyzes existing project cases in Australia to illustrate that integrating cultural fire management not only aids ecological restoration but also enhances community cohesion and identity. This is inspiring for my thesis, reminding me to pay attention to multi-stakeholder cooperation and positive social effects in disaster management. A limitation is the limited number of cases, which restricts the depth of the research and lacks long-term effect data analysis.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2022EF002853
Aotearoa New Zealand’s 21st‐century Wildfire Climate – Melia – 2022 – Earth’s future – wiley online library. Accessed July 15, 2025. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2022EF002853.
This paper studies wildfire risk and pattern predictions in New Zealand under future climate change scenarios. The authors use climate model data to predict that factors such as rising temperatures and worsening droughts will significantly increase the frequency and intensity of wildfires, and propose the need to plan adaptive management measures early. This is helpful for my thesis as it provides a comparative perspective across countries and under the context of climate change. The limitation is that the study primarily focuses on future risk predictions, with limited discussion of current specific disaster prevention measures and policies.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08174-6
Driscoll, Don A, Kristina J Macdonald, Rebecca K Gibson, Tim S Doherty, Dale G Nimmo, Rachael H Nolan, Euan G Ritchie, et al. 2024. Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. Nature 635, Nr. 8040 (13. November): 898–905. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08174-6.
This study focuses on the devastating impact of the 2019–2020 Australian bushfires on biodiversity. The authors quantified the affected species and their habitat selection ranges through field soil and trace monitoring, as well as ecological modeling of the original environment. The results demonstrate that the fire’s impact has far exceeded currently known areas, with a significant number of species and habitats affected. The significance of this article lies in its use of large-scale data to predict and present the ecological environment and its impacts before and after the fires. This research provides strong support for my work, offering compelling evidence of the damage caused by the “Black Summer” to ecosystems, thereby providing a data source and reliability for our discussions. However, this study only provides a large amount of confirmed research data and does not analyze how to carry out ecological restoration or offer policy recommendations. All discussions are still insufficient, and I eagerly await the maturation of this technology so that we can gain a more accurate understanding of the affected ecological environment.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/earth-science/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.566891/full
Zhang, Jie, Zheng Sheng, Yang He, Xinjie Zuo, Bo Jin and Mingyuan He. 2021. Analysis of the impact of the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season on the atmospheric environment. Frontiers in Earth Science 9 (11. June). doi:10.3389/feart.2021.566891, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.566891.
This article primarily explores the impact of wildfires on atmospheric environments from 2019 to 2020; furthermore, the author conducted a detailed analysis of whether wildfires significantly increase greenhouse gas and particulate matter emissions through satellite observations and air quality models. This research has a significant impact on understanding how wildfires influence global climate, enabling us to better comprehend how this unprecedented disaster has contributed to the increasing extremes of global climate through scientific methods. This makes my discussion more comprehensive and less limited. However, a shortcoming of this article is that it does not further analyze or provide evidence to support whether fire emissions have long-term impacts on our current environment.
https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2020EF001671
Deb, Proloy, Hamid Moradkhani, Peyman Abbaszadeh, Anthony S. Kiem, Johanna Engström, David Keellings and Ashish Sharma. 2020. Causes of the widespread 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season. Earth S Future 8, Nr. 11 (1. November). doi:10.1029/2020ef001671, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020ef001671.
The authors of this article use climate attribution methods and historical weather data to analyze the role that extreme weather conditions, prolonged drought, and climate change in triggering the 2019–2020 wildfires, using climate attribution methods and historical meteorological data to strongly support their arguments. The research focuses on the causes of fires, highlighting the deep-seated impacts of climate change. Its importance to my thesis lies in helping to explain that the “Black Summer” was not an isolated disaster but a systemic risk within the context of global warming; however, the article’s relatively limited analysis of land management or human-social factors made its study somewhat one-sided.