Nasa satellites show Amazon fire activity and smoke surging since September, with heavy smoke hitting Manaus.
Story Snapshot
- NASA observed sharp fire and smoke increases across the central and eastern Amazon starting in September 2026.
- Aqua satellite imagery on October 12 showed smoke on both sides of the Amazon River and over Manaus.
- Brazilian data report big jumps in fire hotspots and October fires in Amazonas state.
- Scientists link the surge to El Niño’s drought plus human ignitions, with many fires uncontrolled near Santarém.
NASA detects a sharp rise in Amazon fires and smoke
NASA reported a sharp uptick in fire activity and smoke across the central and eastern Amazon starting in September 2026. The agency cited multiple satellite platforms that monitor active fires and emissions. An image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on the Aqua satellite on October 12 showed smoke streaming from fires on both sides of the Amazon River. Thick smoke affected Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state, indicating widespread burning and degraded air quality in the region.
NASA scientists described the 2026 surge as part of a tropical fire pattern that often tracks with El Niño. They explained that El Niño can disrupt rainfall and dry out fuels, allowing human-set fires to spread farther and faster. A NASA-affiliated researcher estimated between 50 and 70 uncontrolled fires burning near Santarém alone based on satellite analysis. Researchers expect current fires to continue until seasonal rains arrive late in the year or early 2027.
Brazilian monitoring shows large year-over-year jumps
Independent reporting based on Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research showed strong increases that match NASA’s findings. Amazonas recorded more than 3,700 fire hotspots in September 2026, nearly four times the previous September’s count. Other reports said the first half of October brought 1,679 fires in Amazonas, a 253 percent rise from the same period in 2025. These tallies point to a broad and intense fire wave affecting communities and ecosystems across the state.
Weather records help explain why fires spread so fast this season. Brazil’s national weather institute reported that Manaus received 44 millimeters of rain from July through September 2026. The normal amount for that period is about 202 millimeters. That steep shortfall left forests and pastures dry, so fires lit for land clearing or field maintenance could more easily escape control and move into nearby vegetation under windy conditions.
What is driving the surge: drought risk plus human ignition
Scientists point to a compound cause: dry conditions from El Niño create the hazard, while people provide the spark. NASA’s account links disrupted rainfall and drought to the current spike, and also notes that regional burning practices and accidental spread play a role. In short, less rain primes the landscape to burn, and human activity decides where and when ignition happens. That mix raises fire danger across both cleared areas and nearby forest edges during peak dry months.
The data clarify what we know and where limits remain. The reports establish a marked increase in hotspots, active fires, and smoke, with clear images and counts to support it. They do not assign exact shares of blame among El Niño, long-term warming, and land use. They also use different time windows for comparisons. Still, the direction is consistent: fires rose fast as drought deepened, and communities such as Manaus faced heavy smoke and disruption this season.
Why this matters for health, economy, and trust
Smoke from large fires harms lungs, strains hospitals, and closes schools. It also disrupts river transport and local trade when visibility drops and workers fall ill. Farms and ranches can lose fences, pasture, and stored feed. Forest degradation weakens a key carbon sink that helps steady the global climate. People on the left and right share a core worry here: when big risks are clear, slow or confused action by officials looks like a failure to protect the public interest.
Several steps can help reduce harm even in a dry El Niño year. Leaders can target burn bans and patrols to high-risk zones, place air sensors and masks in smoke hotspots, and stage crews and equipment near clusters of uncontrolled fires. Cross-border coordination matters because smoke and fires do not stop at state or national lines. Clear reporting on what is burning, where, and why can also rebuild trust by showing results, not promises.
Sources:
science.nasa.gov, latintimes.com
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