Tag: Wildfires

Australia Fires: Climate Change Increases The Risk Of Wildfires

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UK researchers examined 57 research papers published since the last major review of climate science in 2013 and they find climate change increases the risk of wildfires. The scientists say the recent fires in Australia are a taste of what the world will experience as temperatures rise.

“The average temperature in Australia in December 2019 was exceptionally hot compared to the historical record, and played a key role in the severity and spread of the recent bushfires. Those temperatures would be normal at nearly 3C global warming.”

–Richard Betts, Chair in Climate Impacts at the University of Exeter and Head of Climate Impacts in the Met Office Hadley Centre

A Drier Future Sets the Stage for More Wildfires

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Droughts can create ideal conditions for wildfires. Dry trees and vegetation provide fuel. Low soil and air moisture make it easier for fires to spread quickly. In these conditions, a spark from lightning, electrical failures, human error or planned fires can quickly get out of control. As Earth’s climate warms and precipitation patterns change, increasingly severe droughts will leave some areas of the world vulnerable to increasingly severe fires. Understanding how fires behave in dry conditions can help firefighters, first responders and others prepare for a hotter, drier future.