Climate change is one of the reasons for the increase in the intensity of wildfires
A vast area of the city of Los Angeles in the United States has been burned by a terrible fire. This incident has killed 24 people so far and more than 12,000 structures have been burned. Although fires are common in many regions, their intensity and severity have increased significantly in recent years.
Scientists say that climate change is a major cause of the rising intensity of fires worldwide. Researchers are unclear about how much climate change contributes to the fires in California.
On January 17, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service identified 2024 as the ‘warmest year’ on record. However, it is still difficult to clearly state the impact of global temperature increases on the fires in Los Angeles.
Because not all fires are caused by climate change. A study by ‘World Weather Attribution’ found that recent significant fires are linked to climate change.
Fires that climate change is to blame for
A devastating fire broke out in Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands last June. However, it occurred outside the country’s normal fire season. The fire destroyed about 400,000 hectares of land in a month.
Scientists have also linked the fires that broke out in eastern Canada in late spring (March-May) 2023 to global warming. May and June of that year were the warmest months since 1940.
The study found that climate change has more than doubled the likelihood of wildfires. The impact of the fires has also been quite severe. They accounted for more than a quarter of the global deforestation in 2023.
Wildfires are common in California during the summer and fall. However, climate change has increased the area burned in the state by 172 percent in the past few decades.
Overall, wildfires around the world are becoming more widespread and have doubled in number over the past twenty years. These fires are becoming more and more dangerous.
Similarly, forest fires are also becoming more frequent. A study found that wildfires now destroy at least twice as much vegetation as they did 20 years ago.
About 70 percent of the forest loss from 2001 to 2023 occurred in countries with boreal forests, such as Canada and Russia. Climate change is seen as the main cause of this wildfire activity.
It should be noted that a special type of forest located in the northern part of the world is called the boreal forest. Plants in this type of forest can usually withstand severe cold in winter and moderate temperatures in summer.
Boreal forests, found in Canada, Russia, Scandinavia, and other northern areas, are primarily made up of cedar, spruce, pine, and fir trees.
How temperature affects wildfires
Wildfires are not directly caused by climate change, but most wildfires are started by human activity. Burning fossil fuels has increased greenhouse gas emissions, which have led to a rise in global temperatures. These activities have increased the likelihood of extreme temperatures.
A warmer world creates a more favorable environment for wildfires. Extreme heat, dryness, and strong winds create ideal conditions for fires to spread.
Droughts are difficult to directly link to climate change. Droughts are usually caused by a decrease in the amount of rainfall that a given area receives. However, the causes of droughts can vary depending on the conditions in different regions and the type of drought.
Scientists say droughts that result from a decrease in soil moisture are more likely to be linked to climate change. Droughts caused by lower river or groundwater levels are less likely to be linked to climate change. Areas at risk for such droughts include western North America, the Mediterranean region, parts of Africa, and northeastern South America.
The Los Angeles wildfires are attributed to “hydroclimate whiplash,” which refers to quick shifts between very wet and dry weather patterns.
