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Human-ignited fires result in more extreme fire behavior and ecosystem impacts

Earth Sciences

Human-ignited fires result in more extreme fire behavior and ecosystem impacts

S. Hantson, N. Andela, et al.

Discover how recent research by Stijn Hantson, Niels Andela, Michael L. Goulden, and James T. Randerson reveals the alarming trends of human-ignited wildfires in California. Their study highlights the urgent need to limit these fires during extreme weather to protect our forests and mitigate tree mortality rates, which are over three times higher for rapidly spreading fires. Tune in to understand the critical insights behind these explosive wildfire patterns!

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Playback language: English
Abstract
California has experienced a rapid increase in burned area over the past several decades. This study uses a standardized database of wildfire behavior, including daily fire rate-of-spread and fire radiative power for large wildfires in California (2012–2018), to show that human-ignited fires start at locations with lower tree cover and during periods with more extreme fire weather, leading to more explosive growth and larger ecosystem impact (tree mortality more than three times higher for fast-moving fires) compared to lightning-caused fires. Limiting human-caused fires during extreme fire weather is crucial for forest conservation.
Publisher
Nature Communications
Published On
May 17, 2022
Authors
Stijn Hantson, Niels Andela, Michael L. Goulden, James T. Randerson
Tags
wildfires
California
human-induced fires
tree mortality
fire weather
explosive growth
environmental impact

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