scholarly journals Limited effect of COVID-19 on the 2020 fire season in Mediterranean Europe

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Víctor Resco de Dios
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Limited Effect ◽  
Western Us ◽  
Fire Activity ◽  
Mediterranean Europe ◽  
In Fire ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Extreme Fire

In a recent study, Rodrigues et al. (2020) analyze the impact of COVID-19 on fire activity. During this year’s pandemic we have experienced extreme fire activity in many areas worldwide including Siberia (McCarty et al., 2020), western US (Pickrell and Pennisi, 2020), and different Latin American countries including Argentina, Bolivia or Paraguay. Interestingly, the authors argue that COVID-19 has led to a reduction in fire activity in EUMED countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece) because of the associated decrease in human activity.

Unusual fire seasons in a changing climate - A Bayesian approach.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Ian Kelley ◽  
Chantelle Burton ◽  
Rhys Whitley ◽  
Chris Huntingford ◽  
Ioannis Bistinas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real Time ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Model Parameters ◽  
Posterior Probability Distribution ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Fire Activity ◽  
In Fire ◽  
Extreme Fire

<p>A series of fire events have captured the attention of the public and press in the last couple of years. South America, for example, saw the largest increase in fire count in nearly 10 years, mainly in areas historically associated with deforestation in Amazonia. Meanwhile, South Eastern Australia has seen a number of devastating bush fires in recent months, resulting in (at time of writing) 27 deaths and the destruction of over 2000 properties. These two fire events, in particular, have sparked debates about whether the levels of burning were unprecedented, and if so, whether they were driven by changes in human ignitions or land management, or if the fire season was drier than normal and whether climate change played a role. However, confidently determining the main drivers of fire events such as these often remains challenging. There is an ever-increasing availability of near-real-time meteorological and fire activity data that could be used to determine drivers, but the complex interplay of different fire controls makes teasing apart drivers of fire difficult from observations alone. Many coarse-scale fire-enabled terrestrial biosphere models account for some interplay of controls. However, most fail to reliably reproduce trends in fire, and often rely on inputs that are not available for some time after these fire seasons have passed.</p><p>Here, we have developed a Bayesian framework which addresses this by inferring fire drivers directly from observations and tracking uncertainty in a simple fire model. The model uses coarse resolution, monthly data that is available at near-real-time and emulates most fire-enabled land surface schemes by summarizing drivers as controls describing fuel continuity; moisture; lightning and human ignitions; and human suppression. The framework can be trained on different fire-related variables and finds a posterior probability distribution of both the model parameters and the expected fire activity from the model as a whole. This allows us to determine the probability of a particular fire season event within the context of the historical meteorological record, as well as the main drivers of unusual fire events.</p><p>This framework is first applied globally, identifying tropical forests and woodland ecosystems as key hotspots of long term fire regime shifts. In South Eastern Australian woodland, changes in fuel continuity and moisture point to a weak, long term decline in fire activity, but with increased variability, indicating a higher probability of extreme fire years. The arc of deforestation in the Amazon shows long-term increased susceptibility to fire due to drying conditions from changes in land cover. However, when focusing the framework specifically on Amazonia, we show lower meteorologically driven fire counts than we see in the observations for 2019, and that it is extremely likely (>95% probability) that the weather conditions have not triggered the very high levels of fire seen in the Amazon this last year. This demonstrates the potential of the framework for use in rapid attribution of drivers in future extreme fire seasons.</p>

scholarly journals Twenty-first century droughts have not increasingly exacerbated fire season severity in the Brazilian Amazon

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Libonati ◽  
J. M. C. Pereira ◽  
C. C. Da Camara ◽  
L. F. Peres ◽  
D. Oom ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Brazilian Amazon ◽  
First Century ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Amazon Forest ◽  
Active Fire ◽  
Fire Activity ◽  
Twenty First Century ◽  
In Fire

AbstractBiomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon is modulated by climate factors, such as droughts, and by human factors, such as deforestation, and land management activities. The increase in forest fires during drought years has led to the hypothesis that fire activity decoupled from deforestation during the twenty-first century. However, assessment of the hypothesis relied on an incorrect active fire dataset, which led to an underestimation of the decreasing trend in fire activity and to an inflated rank for year 2015 in terms of active fire counts. The recent correction of that database warrants a reassessment of the relationships between deforestation and fire. Contrasting with earlier findings, we show that the exacerbating effect of drought on fire season severity did not increase from 2003 to 2015 and that the record-breaking dry conditions of 2015 had the least impact on fire season of all twenty-first century severe droughts. Overall, our results for the same period used in the study that originated the fire-deforestation decoupling hypothesis (2003–2015) show that decoupling was clearly weaker than initially proposed. Extension of the study period up to 2019, and novel analysis of trends in fire types and fire intensity strengthened this conclusion. Therefore, the role of deforestation as a driver of fire activity in the region should not be underestimated and must be taken into account when implementing measures to protect the Amazon forest.

scholarly journals Monetary integration issues in Latin America: A multivariate assessment

2008 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-308
Author(s):  
Jean-Pierre Allegret ◽  
Alain Sand-Zantman
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Exchange Rate ◽  
Business Cycles ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Monetary Union ◽  
Monetary Integration ◽  
Integration Process ◽  
Common Shocks ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries

This paper assesses the monetary consequences of the Latin-American integration process. Over the period 1991-2007, we analyze a sample of five Latin-American countries focusing on the feasibility of a monetary union between L.A. economies. To this end, we study the issue of business cycle synchronization with the occurrence of common shocks. First, we assess the international disturbances influence on the domestic business cycles. Second, we analyze the impact of the adoption of different exchange rate regimes on the countries' responses to shocks. .

Kaizen, a continuous improvement practice in organizations

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla María Alvarado-Ramírez ◽  
Víctor Hipólito Pumisacho-Álvaro ◽  
José Ángel Miguel-Davila ◽  
Manuel F. Suárez Barraza
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Latin American ◽  
The State ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Managerial Behavior ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Service Companies ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to compare the practices of continuous improvement that are applied in medium and large manufacturing and service companies in two Latin American countries. At the same time, benefits and barriers experienced by these companies with regard to sustainability of continuous improvement are explored.Design/methodology/approachIn order to generate a comparative study between two Latin American countries, interviews were conducted with managers linked to continuous improvement in medium and large companies in the State of Puebla and the Metropolitan District of Quito, which are important areas in Mexico and Ecuador, respectively. Data were collected by means of document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and direct observation.FindingsCompanies in both countries identify the use of various techniques and/or tools for continuous improvement. The results of the empirical evidence show how the impact of the application of the techniques has been beneficial in economic and human terms. Thus, the exploratory study has permitted the identification of the drivers and inhibitors in the maintenance of continuous improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is based on only two areas of the Latin American countries: Mexico and Ecuador. Their results can therefore not be generalized. The approach is applied in a specific environment, namely, the State of Puebla and the Metropolitan District of Quito. This study incorporates the perception of managers, directors, and/or supervisors involved in continuous improvement processes.Practical implicationsThis paper seeks to provide analytical input. The study is of great interest to researchers, managers, consultants, and professionals linked to projects of continuous improvement who wish to incorporate continuous improvement practices which are sustainable over time. A new managerial behavior is the basis of continuous improvement, where the training and development of the human resource increases the commitment to achieve organizational changes.Originality/valueThis research makes an empirical contribution to the literature through the understanding of practices of continuous improvement in a Latin American context, highlighting the factors that improve or impede the process of continuous improvement. Particularly in Mexico and Ecuador, the empirical evidence on this subject is still scarce despite the existence of theoretical academic literature.

scholarly journals THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SOVEREIGN DEFAULTS IN LATIN AMERICA 1870-2012

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-104
Author(s):  
Tjeerd Menno Boonman
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Sovereign Debt ◽  
Gdp Growth ◽  
Domestic Economy ◽  
Real Gdp ◽  
Output Losses ◽  
Run Up ◽  
Sovereign Defaults ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries

ABSTRACTThis article analyzes sovereign debt defaults in four Latin American countries—Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Mexico—for the period 1870-2012. The impact of sovereign defaults on real GDP growth is generally short-lived, while the impact in terms of output losses is deep and lasts long. Defaults in the period 1972-2012 show a deep and long-lasting impact compared to defaults in earlier periods. Moreover, the length of the contraction that follows a default is associated with favourable international conditions in the run-up to a default, while the depth of the contraction is associated with an expansive domestic economy in the run-up to a default. The results fit with boom–bust theories and sudden stop models.

scholarly journals Regulatory State and Judicial Decisions in Telecommunications in Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-36
Author(s):  
Clara Luz Alvarez
Keyword(s):  
Public Policy ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Regulatory State ◽  
Judicial Decisions ◽  
Technical Issues ◽  
The Creation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – To assess the role of the judiciary in defining the Regulatory State and in regulating telecommunications in Mexico after almost 5 years of the creation of an independent regulator for telecommunications and broadcasting (Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones) with authority in antitrust matters. Methodology/approach/design – To identify the most relevant judicial decisions in telecommunications and antitrust matters, research upon the context in which they were adopted, analyze the content of the decisions and identify the impact of such judicial decisions in the construction of the Mexican Regulatory State, and in the law, in regulation/acts of the regulator. Findings – The main findings are that: (1) the Mexican Regulatory State is a reality now, even if it is in its beginnings; (2) Congress is receptive to Judiciary´s decisions; and (3) deference by judiciary to the regulator is not a blank check, even if there are complex technical issues and a discretionary decision. Practical implications – The identification of a Regulatory State in Mexico evidences that there are deep changes in the traditional relationship between Congress and regulators. Also, the deference granted by the courts to regulators must be considered as a consequence of such Regulatory State. Nonetheless and despite the deference to regulators, Judiciary´s role in building the telecommunications and broadcasting sector is paramount, because judicial decisions ultimately define it. Originality/value – Major changes to telecommunications and broadcasting have taken place in Mexico in the last years. Therefore, there has been scarce research and analysis about the new role of regulators, legislators, and judges, in the so called Regulatory State in Mexico. Moreover, the experience of Mexico may be valuable for other scholars which are assessing public policy in their own Latin American countries or in countries with similarities to them.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemic Initial Effects on the Idiosyncratic Risk in Latin America

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-21
Author(s):  
Andre Assis de Salles
Keyword(s):  
Latin American ◽  
Emerging Economies ◽  
Idiosyncratic Risk ◽  
Project Financing ◽  
Specific Risk ◽  
Conditional Models ◽  
International Investors ◽  
Financing And Investment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries

This work aims to estimate the idiosyncratic risk of Latin American economies and emerging economies using heteroscedastic conditional models to verify the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the risk associated with productive projects. The methodology used is based on the portfolio theory to estimate the idiosyncratic risk. The results highlight that Latin American economies are more susceptible to sanitary crises, such as the current pandemic, than emerging economies. The inability of emerging countries to generate the necessary savings to provide for their development imposes the need to attract resources for project financing and investment. Thus, determining the specific risk of Latin American countries is fundamental for international investors giving them another parameter when deciding on investment or financing on the continent. Originally, this work demonstrates how the sanitary crisis deriving from the Covid-19 pandemic affected the idiosyncratic or specific risk of Latin American economies using their capital market indicators. This study contributes to the assessment of Latin American economies specific risk or country risk at the beginning of the pandemic.

scholarly journals Culinary lexicon in the dialects of Spanish language

2021 ◽  
pp. 38-54
Author(s):  
Angelina Yur'evna Pshenichnikova
Keyword(s):  
Dominican Republic ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Proper Names ◽  
Spanish Language ◽  
Separate Group ◽  
Spanish Speaking ◽  
Language Analysis ◽  
National Cuisine ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Latin American Countries

This article discusses the peculiarities of linguistic consciousness of the representatives of ethnoses of Latin American countries through the modern dialects of Spanish language. Analysis is conducted on the lexicon of the national cuisine of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. The article includes the analysis of linguistic zones of the Spanish language. The goal lies in examination of the lexicon of national cuisine of Latin American countries and, and creation of culinary dictionary of Spanish-speaking countries. The author aims to determine the national-specific gastronomic realities of Latin American countries through the prism of ethno-cultural space, and establish correlation between the uniqueness of gastronomic realities with the mentality and fragments of the linguistic worldview of Latin American countries. The conclusion is formulated on the impact of loanwords upon the national culinary lexicon of Latin American countries. The author draws a chart with the lexemes of national cuisines of Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay. In accordance with the linguistic zones of Spanish language, the national culinary lexicon is divided into three groups of indigenisms; considering the influence of other languages on the formation of the vocabulary of the regional Spanish language, the national culinary lexicon is divided into the following loanwords (Africanisms, Arabisms, Gallicisms, Anglicisms, and Italianisms). Lexical units, which are widespread in the territory of two, three, or four national dialects of the Spanish language are referred to as regionalisms. Lexical units that are characteristic to one national dialect of the Spanish language are referred to as variantisms. The proper names are allocated into a separate group. The scientific novelty consists in examination of the poorly studied national culinary lexicon of such Latin American countries as Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.

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