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Comparing Lightning-Caused and Human-Caused U.S. Wildfires

Published

3 years ago

October 18, 2022

Gilbert Fontana

Featured Creator

Article/Editing:

Carmen Ang

comparing acres burned by human-caused fires versus lightning in the U.S.

Comparing Lightning-Caused and Human-Caused U.S. Wildfires

Each year, thousands of acres of land are scorched by wildfires across the United States. While most of these fires are triggered by natural causes such as lightning, some are unfortunately caused by human activity.

This graphic by Gilbert Fontana uses data from the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) to show the number of acres burned across the U.S. between 2001 and 2021.

Year	Acres burned (lightning-caused fires)	Acres burned (human-caused fires)
2021	4,101,884	3,023,759
2020	4,123,523	5,998,813
2019	3,447,038	1,217,324
2018	3,127,003	5,640,489
2017	5,195,610	4,830,476
2016	1,743,385	3,766,610
2015	8,112,688	2,012,461
2014	2,012,843	1,582,770
2013	3,057,566	1,261,980
2012	6,825,989	2,500,249
2011	3,354,596	5,356,771
2010	2,119,275	1,303,449
2009	3,849,040	2,072,746
2008	1,862,477	3,429,991
2007	5,878,691	3,449,360
2006	5,468,901	4,404,844
2005	7,168,062	1,521,327
2004	7,011,023	964,800
2003	2,038,443	1,922,249
2002	4,097,593	3,077,119
2001	1,822,600	1,748,661

Historically, we can see that lightning-caused fires have led to more damage in the U.S., and this is especially true in the West region which includes states like California, Oregon, and Washington.

That said, it’s worth noting that in three out of the six years from 2016–2021, human-caused wildfires led to more damage.

If you’re interested in learning more about wildfires, check out this article about The Relationship Between Climate Change and Wildfires

This article was published as a part of Visual Capitalist's Creator Program, which features data-driven visuals from some of our favorite Creators around the world.

Related Topics:America US wildfires fires air quality climate lightning human-caused wildfires matches camping campfire cigarette cigarettes

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Infographic: How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?

Plastics can take 20 to 500 years to decompose.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 22, 2025

Bruno Venditti

Bar chart showing how long it takes for plastic to decompose.

Infographic: How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Key Takeaways

Plastics can take 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material and structure
The breakdown rate of plastic also depends on sunlight exposure (UV radiation)
Single-use plastic grocery bags take about 20 years to break down
Plastic water bottles (made of polyethylene terephthalate – PET) take around 450 years to fully break down

Not Natural

Plastic is everywhere—from everyday packaging to essential medical tools. But once discarded, these items don’t just disappear. They linger for decades, centuries even, posing long-term environmental threats. Meanwhile, only 9% of plastic gets recycled globally.

Plastic is derived from petroleum and doesn’t occur in nature. Its carbon bonds differ from those in nature, making it harder and more energy-intensive to break down.

The quickest to break down, cigarette butts, still take five years. Plastic bags follow at 20 years, and plastic-lined coffee cups at 30 years, according to data from Chariot Energy.

Material	Estimated Decomposition
Cigarette butts	5 years
Plastic bags	20 years
Plastic-lined coffee cups	30 years
Plastic straws	200 years
Soda can rings	400 years
Plastic bottles	450 years
Toothbrushes	500 years
Disposable diapers	500 years
Styrofoam	500 years
Fishing line	600 years

More durable items last far longer. Plastic straws take 200 years to decompose, soda can rings 400 years, and plastic bottles 450 years. Everyday hygiene items like toothbrushes and diapers take about 500 years—just as long as styrofoam.

At the top of the chart is fishing line, which can persist in the environment for 600 years. This is especially harmful to marine life, often entangling animals or being ingested with fatal consequences.

It’s also important to note that plastic can usually only be recycled once or twice before it degrades and becomes unusable. This means that even recycled plastics will eventually end up in a landfill, be incinerated, or find their way into the ocean.