Changes in our climate, together with other aspects, have led to wildfires increasing in intensity, seriousness, duration, and size. NASA environment and wildfire specialist Liz Hoy describes how and why NASA studies these events from the air, ground, and space to better comprehend the impacts they have on both a local and worldwide scale. Credit: NASA
One thing that I find really confident is that NASA continues to study wildfires around the world. We have airborne campaigns that fly around to much better understand wildfires from the air, how its affecting smoke, where wildfires are burning. And then, of course, we have satellite imagery, which offers us a global picture of wildfires all around the world all the time.
So are wildfires worsening? Yes, they are. However there are methods that we can all think of this together. And I believe just learning more about these issues and being able to share that with other members in our neighborhood is a way we can all move forward and believe about environment change and wildfires.
The Camp Fire wildfire in 2018 burned an overall of 239 square miles, damaged 18,804 structures and eliminated 85 people. Scientists say it also produced sticking around brain trauma in a few of those exposed to the most dangerous and most devastating wildfire in California history. Credit: National Institute of Standards and Technology
Are wildfires worsening?
Yes, regrettably, they are. Were seeing increases in the severity and the strength, the overall scorched area of wildfires and the period of fire across the fire season. And while fire is a natural part of environments, whats actually driving this modification is were seeing a lot of modifications in our climate. Were seeing boosts in international temperature level as well as more severe weather condition occasions, so longer dry spells. And so we have these dry and hot conditions, that makes plant life, forests and yards more available to burn since theyre drier.
And so with these drier conditions and these drier fuels, were likely to see more fires. And this is taking place in numerous places all across the world. This can be really destructive to the community, but also to human health, where were seeing people going to the health center with respiratory issues and smoke can simply take a trip numerous thousands of miles with these fires.
The Camp Fire wildfire in 2018 burned a total of 239 square miles, ruined 18,804 structures and killed 85 individuals. Scientists say it also produced remaining brain injury in some of those exposed to the deadliest and most damaging wildfire in California history. Were seeing increases in the strength and the intensity, the overall scorched location of wildfires and the period of fire across the fire season. We have air-borne campaigns that fly around to much better comprehend wildfires from the air, how its impacting smoke, where wildfires are burning.