Environmental Studies and Forestry

Forest fire threatens global carbon sinks and population centres under rising atmospheric water demand

H. Clarke, R. H. Nolan, et al.

Witness an alarming rise in global forest fire activity and its connection to atmospheric conditions, as revealed by researchers Hamish Clarke, Rachael H. Nolan, Victor Resco De Dios, Ross Bradstock, Anne Griebel, Shiva Khanal, and Matthias M. Boer. This study unveils how climate change could pose severe risks to both our forests and human health due to increased wildfire smoke.

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Playback language: English

Index

Abstract

Unprecedented levels of forest fire activity and severity have been observed globally. This study shows a strong correlation between fire activity in all global forest biomes and atmospheric water demand, specifically maximum daily vapor pressure deficit (VPD). Climate change projections indicate widespread increases in fire risk, with significant implications for carbon loss (e.g., Amazon rainforest) and human health (e.g., South Asia, East Africa) due to wildfire smoke.

Publisher

Nature Communications

Published On

Oct 26, 2022

Authors

Hamish Clarke, Rachael H. Nolan, Victor Resco De Dios, Ross Bradstock, Anne Griebel, Shiva Khanal, Matthias M. Boer

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