Researchers simulate sensor web technique to track pollution transport and improve forecast accuracy. The technology coordinates observations from satellites, airborne instruments, and ground-based stations to provide alerts days in advance for vulnerable populations.
A recent NCAR study found that Alaskan and Canadian wildfires emitted 30 teragrams of carbon monoxide, causing a 25% increase in ozone levels in parts of the northern continental US and a 10% increase in Europe.
A new study reveals that a world without fire would see closed forests more than double in extent, while tropical grasslands and savannas shrink significantly. The findings highlight the crucial role of fire in shaping vegetation and ecosystems worldwide.
Researchers create a system that takes chaotic reports from the field and transforms them into useful information for decision-makers and emergency responders. The system, undergoing beta testing, is designed to suggest likely scenarios and provide confidence measures within minutes of receiving initial reports.
A five-year study will monitor weed growth and make recommendations for maintaining fragile biodiversity, which is already impacted by development. The research aims to determine the threshold at which nitrogen affects different vegetation types and model future vegetation based on N emissions and urban development scenarios.
A recent BioScience article highlights that decades of fire suppression may have been overly criticized, and climate has a significant impact on fire spread in high-elevation forests. The studies also reveal how invasive alien plants can dramatically alter fire regimes, proposing a scheme for evaluating the dangers of these invasions.
A new partnership between researchers and federal agencies has created a powerful tool to manage fire risk, with maps showing the extent of wildland/urban interfaces across the US. The analysis highlights the need for ecological principles in land-use planning, particularly in high-risk areas.
Researchers develop new methods to assess carbon uptake in Western mountain forests, which are affected by drought. By combining airborne data with ground-based measurements, scientists can better understand natural processes involved in forest-air carbon exchange.
Researchers combine airborne data with ground-based measurements to better understand carbon exchanges in rolling hills and mountain ranges. The project aims to enhance carbon uptake and improve monitoring methods for high-emitting nations and industries.
Researchers at NCAR/University of Colorado Denver aim to create a system that sends real-time maps and predictions of wildfires to frontline firefighters. The team will use supercomputers, satellite and sensor monitoring, and meteorology to develop tools to warn firefighters about wildfire behavior.
A team of researchers has received a $2 million NSF grant to create an advanced system that predicts wildfire behavior and progression. The system will use data from sensors, satellite monitoring, and mathematical theory to provide minute-by-minute predictions for firefighters.
A study examining coastal and southern California shrublands found that fire hazard risk was relatively constant at 2.7% annually, contradicting the assumption that older vegetation fuels cause larger fires. Regional differences may contribute to these findings.
Salvage harvesting operations after natural disturbances can threaten some organisms when large quantities of biological legacies are removed. Researchers argue that exempting large areas from these practices is crucial for ecosystem recovery and sustainability.
A study by Thomas Karl and Kevin Trenberth concludes that human activities are significantly impacting the global climate, with a 90% probability of temperature rises between 1.7 to 4.9 degrees Celsius by 2100. Rising carbon dioxide levels and industrial emissions are driving these changes.
A team of top scientists, including Thomas Karl and Kevin Trenberth, conclude that human activities are significantly impacting the global climate, with industrial emissions being the dominant factor. The study estimates a 1.7°C to 4.9°C temperature rise by 2100, with widespread impacts on society and the environment.
A study found that ponderosa pine and Douglas fir needles can reduce water flow erosion by up to 60% and rain-induced erosion by up to 80%. Researchers used artificial rain laboratory experiments to test the effectiveness of needle cover in preventing post-fire soil erosion.
The project will model air quality in the US, factoring in climate-driven changes, wildfires, and land use shifts. Researchers aim to better understand how future climate may impact urban and regional air quality.
Researchers developed software to weigh fire danger reduction against thinning costs, finding targeted density preserves ponderosa pine and western larch while minimizing waste. The approach can help reduce wildfire risks across tens of millions of acres with cost-effective solutions.
A four-year collaborative project aims to predict wildfire behavior using remote-sensing data and computer animation. The model will output a 3D 'movie' predicting fire behavior for the following hour, helping fire managers make informed decisions.
Researchers are using mobile radar to track wind patterns in Montana wildfires, enabling more accurate predictions of fire behavior and helping firefighters fight fires more efficiently. This technology has the potential to transform wildland fire monitoring and improve public safety.
A new remote sensing system, the Wildfire Airborne Sensor Program (WASP), will be able to detect wildfires as small as 8-12 inches in diameter from 10,000 feet altitude. The system combines infrared and high-resolution visible cameras with GIS technology to provide accurate and reliable fire detection.
Research shows that fire frequency impacts the ability of forests to store carbon, with younger stands storing less carbon than older ones. Forests dominated by rapidly growing aspen trees tend to store more carbon than those with slower-growing black spruce and jack pine trees.
A new GIS tool called GeoWEPP can rapidly assess soil erosion and sediment delivery in streams after wildfires, allowing forest managers to quickly plan and implement conservation measures. The tool guides users to select the best and most cost-effective conservation measures to mitigate erosion and protect water sources.
Scientists are developing new approaches to disaster prevention, including tools for wildfire management and prediction systems for heavy rainfall and landslides. These initiatives aim to reduce the impact of extreme weather events on communities.
Amazon wildfires contribute significantly to atmospheric carbon dioxide, reducing tree-life viability to less than half of unburned areas. Dr Barlow's research found that fires damage large, thicker-barked trees, leading to increased emissions and further loss of vegetation.
The GSA 2002 conference discusses the impacts of human activities on natural systems, including droughts, wildfires, and ground-water depletion. Researchers also explore the role of climate change in shaping Earth's history, as seen in sediment cores from the Great Blue Hole.
USGS scientists Jon Keeley and C.J. Fotheringham argue that natural fire regimes in chaparral ecosystems are not characterized by frequent small fires, but rather by landscape-scale crown fires. They suggest that limited, strategically placed burns are more cost-effective than large-scale prescription burning.
A study found that invasive Argentine ants eliminate native ant species, affecting seed burial and plant regeneration in fynbos ecosystems. This disruption can have cascading effects on the entire community, highlighting the threat of invasive species.
The Terra satellite beams daily images of western U.S. wildfires to NASA, which are then transmitted to the Forest Service. The collaboration uses MODIS data to create Active Fire Maps that help resource allocation decisions and aid in public understanding of fire locations.
The Scripps Institution of Oceanography has developed a groundbreaking wildfire forecast for the western United States, using statistical methods to predict fire seasons and fuel availability. The 2001 forecast suggests a much milder wildfire season compared to 2000, which burned over 7 million acres and caused $1.6 billion in damage.
The USGS is studying the effects of climate change, fire, and carbon dioxide on ecosystems in America's grasslands, deserts, and mountains. Researchers have found that high mortality rates among grassland birds in Colorado may be caused by small mammals invading nests.
The University of Washington research aircraft Husky One will measure pollutant concentrations from three primary sources: fossil fuels, agricultural fires, and natural processes. The subcontinent-sized plume will be studied as it rotates thousands of miles across southern Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.
The University of Hawai'i computer system uses Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) to detect heat from fires on the ground, providing early warnings for forest services. The system has been tested in Southern California and will soon monitor fires across the West Coast, including California, Oregon, and Washington.
A recent USGS study has found that urban sprawl, not fire suppression, is largely responsible for the devastating wildfires in southern and central-coastal California. The researchers suggest that strategic management of buffer zones between urban lands and wildlands could help mitigate ecological impacts.
Researchers found that global climate change could lead to dramatic increases in California wildfires and economic losses. The study analyzed the potential effects of climate change on wildfires in California and found that changes would occur despite enhanced fire suppression resources.
A computer simulation by Cornell University geologists shows that forest fires follow a fractal distribution, similar to other natural events. By analyzing data from forests and wildfires worldwide, including Yellowstone National Park, the researchers found that allowing smaller fires to burn can prevent larger ones.
Scientists will present evidence that global change exacerbates wildfires in the Mediterranean region by increasing air temperature, reducing precipitation, and altering landscape patterns. The study finds that water stress increases plant flammability, making conditions more favorable for wildfires in regions like Valencia, Spain.
The U.S. Geological Survey presents a forum on reducing losses from natural disasters, featuring California's experience in earthquake risk management and mitigation. The event aims to share lessons learned from the Northridge earthquake of 1994 and explore potential models for nationwide disaster reduction plans.
A three-year study in Illinois found that planned burning in oak savannas enhances certain bird species, such as the red-headed woodpecker and northern oriole. The findings suggest that fire can select against some species but benefit others, leading to a more diverse bird community.
Researchers analyzed ancient methane levels in ice cores, revealing patterns of climate change over the past 110,000 years. The study confirms high methane levels during warm periods and suggests a link between global warming and changes in terrestrial climate.