Wildfire Risk Increase
Climate change has increased wildfire risk through warmer temperatures and drier conditions that lengthen wildfire season, increase the chances of a fire starting, and help a burning fire spread. Warmer and drier conditions also contribute to the spread of the mountain pine beetle and other insects that can weaken or kill trees, building up the fuels in a forest.
Scientists have observed a significant increasing trend in the number of large fires and the total area burned per year in the United States. In the West, anthropogenic climate change has been directly linked to drier conditions and increases in forest fire activity.[1][2][3][4]
Read MoreApr 28, 2022
Western Wildfire Season 2022
Jan 5, 2022
Marshall Fire December 2021
Jul 12, 2021
Western Wildfire Season 2021
Aug 19, 2021 | NBC News
Caldor Fire explodes more than 8 times its size to nearly 54,000 acres in a day
Aug 18, 2021 | The Washington Post
Wildfires explode again in the West, fanned by turbulent winds
Aug 16, 2021 | NBC News
Heat waves, wildfires & drought: How this summer is a 'preview' of Earth's coming climate crisis
Dec 7, 2017 | California Air Resources Board
Southern California Air Quality
Sep 5, 2017 | Cal Fire | US Forest Service
California Tree Mortality Viewer
Apr 12, 2017 | Florida Forest Service | Fire Management Information System (FMIS)
Florida Fire Map
Apr 10, 2020 | Environmental Research Letters
Climate change is increasing the risk of extreme autumn wildfire conditions across California
Nov 26, 2019 | Ecosphere
Widespread severe wildfires under climate change lead to increased forest homogeneity in dry mixed‐conifer forests
Nov 21, 2019 | Current Climate Change Reports
Recent Advances and Remaining Uncertainties in Resolving Past and Future Climate Effects on Global Fire Activity
Earth Systems Signals
Global warming is causing widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere.
Heat Signals
The Earth is getting hotter due to human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.
Drought Signals
Climate change is making droughts more likely to occur, and more severe when they do.
Wildfires Signals
Climate change is increasing the size, frequency, intensity and seasonality of wildfires.
Hurricanes Signals
Warmer temperatures increase the rate of water evaporation, which feeds moisture and energy into storms.
Floods Signals
Worsening floods due to climate change are putting a growing number of communities at risk.