The Effect of Climate Change on Wildfires

Caitlynn Santiago 

03/16/2022

Climate Leadership

The Effect of Climate Change on Wildfires

 

Chart, funnel chart Description automatically generatedClimate change has been a key factor in the increase of wildfires over the years. Many of the reasons wildfires start correlate with climate change. Some of these factors are temperature, soil moisture, and other trees and shrubs. Climate change intensifies the dying of organic matter in forests and has doubled the number of large wildfires between 1984 and 2015.

Climate Change Behind Surge in Western Wildfires | Climate Central Studies show that an average annual 1°C temperature increase would increase the median burned area per year up to 600% in some forests. The harmful smoke produced when trees and other organic materials burn can travel hundreds to thousands of miles from the actual flames. Climate change has intensified summertime droughts, reduced the mountaintop snowpack which makes fire seasons longer, and has even increased lightning strikes hat can trigger big fires in tinder-dry forests. One main cause of this is from the unchecked use of fossil fuels. All that activity ends up dumping increasing amounts of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which continues to warm the planet and conditions that give rise to extreme weather events such as extreme heat. 

Although wildfires are very common in many Western states, there are ways to build resilience to them. One thing people can do is discouraging developments near places that often catch fire easily. Another thing they can do is incorporate fire-resistant design features and materials in new construction. 

 

 

 

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