Friday, July 19, 2019

California wildfires are eight times bigger, burn 500% more land, because of climate change, study says

Because of climate change, California wildfires have increased in size by eight times since the 1970s and burn nearly 500% more land annually. That's according to a study published in Earth Future.

Since the early 1970s, warm-season days got an average of 1.4°C. hotter, which has made for drier conditions. That has had a much bigger impact on forest fires than on non-forest fires. Strong fall winds, which spread fire and dry out vegetation, and delayed winter precipitation are the major promoters of wildfire, Jordan Evans and Brandon Miller report for CNN.

The researchers expect the trend to continue, and warn Californians to prepare for the financial and human costs of continued increases in wildfire activity. The state endured some of the most destructive and widespread wildfires in history in 2017 and 2018. "In these two years, the state spent over $1.5 billion, more than any previous two year period," the study says.

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