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

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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.

YearAcres burned (lightning-caused fires)Acres burned (human-caused fires)
20214,101,8843,023,759
20204,123,5235,998,813
20193,447,0381,217,324
20183,127,0035,640,489
20175,195,6104,830,476
20161,743,3853,766,610
20158,112,6882,012,461
20142,012,8431,582,770
20133,057,5661,261,980
20126,825,9892,500,249
20113,354,5965,356,771
20102,119,2751,303,449
20093,849,0402,072,746
20081,862,4773,429,991
20075,878,6913,449,360
20065,468,9014,404,844
20057,168,0621,521,327
20047,011,023964,800
20032,038,4431,922,249
20024,097,5933,077,119
20011,822,6001,748,661

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
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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.

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Infographic: How Long Does Plastic Take to Decompose?

Plastics can take 20 to 500 years to decompose.

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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.

MaterialEstimated Decomposition
Cigarette butts5 years
Plastic bags20 years
Plastic-lined coffee cups30 years
Plastic straws200 years
Soda can rings400 years
Plastic bottles450 years
Toothbrushes500 years
Disposable diapers500 years
Styrofoam500 years
Fishing line600 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.

Learn More on the Voronoi App 

If you enjoyed this post, check out How Much Plastic Waste Actually Gets Recycled Globally? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.

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