A new study published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology found a significant association between wildfire smoke exposure and an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 in Reno, Nev. During a prolonged 2020 wildfire smoke event, PM2.5 levels were associated with a 17.7% rise in COVID-19 cases.
SourceDesert Research Institute·JournalJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology·DateJul 15, 2021
Researchers found that combining prescribed fires with suppression operations reduces tree mortality by 72%, compared to 22% for operations alone. The study's findings suggest that prescribed burns have a strong moderating effect on wildfires, making fire management strategies more effective.
SourcePenn State·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateJul 14, 2021
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Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.
A study found that wildfires alter male red-backed fairywrens' plumage, making them less attractive to females, while also lowering circulating testosterone. This suggests an evolved response to minimize breeding during unfavorable environmental conditions.
SourceWashington State University·JournalJournal of Avian Biology·DateJun 30, 2021
A recent study has summarized nearly two decades of research on the efficacy of nature-based solutions in reducing disaster risk. The review found ample evidence that ecosystems can reduce the impacts of hazard events, such as wildfires, flooding, and landslides, in a cost-effective manner.
SourceCMCC Foundation - Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change·JournalNature Sustainability·DateJun 30, 2021
The study reveals a decline of over 1,200 km2 in California's blue oak range due to prolonged droughts and warmer temperatures. This loss is accompanied by conditional change, indicating health, productivity, and susceptibility issues.
SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Climate·DateJun 29, 2021
Researchers found that wildfire smoke affects the ability to observe more than a third of common bird species in Washington state. Higher concentrations of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, were associated with harder-to-observe bird species, while some species became easier to detect when smoke was present.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalOrnithological Applications·DateJun 29, 2021
A new study predicts a decline in lightning-caused ignitions but an increase in the size of wildfires by mid-century. Human-caused fire ignitions are expected to remain steady, while climate change is expected to worsen social inequalities and lead to more extreme wildfire events.
SourceOregon State University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 16, 2021
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The 2020 fire season marked a turning point in the history of high-elevation forests in the Rocky Mountains. Researchers found that fires are now burning nearly twice as much area on average compared to the last 2,000 years. This increased frequency and severity pose significant risks for forest resilience and regeneration.
SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2021
A new University of Montana study finds high-elevation forests in the central Rocky Mountains are experiencing unprecedented fire activity, with burning now occurring every 120 years compared to historical averages of 230 years. Climate change is identified as a primary cause of this increase.
SourceThe University of Montana·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 14, 2021
Scientists have discovered a climate pattern in the Arctic that drives co-occurrences of European heatwaves and large-scale wildfires with air pollution. The circum-Arctic wave (CAW) pattern is linked to exceptionally high PM2.5 levels and organic carbon aerosol concentrations.
SourceHokkaido University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateJun 1, 2021
A new study examines the antecedents of disaster preparedness in firms, finding that organizational experience with disaster is a powerful motivator, but also notes the importance of external learning and collaboration. Effective disaster preparation requires working with others to learn from best practices.
SourceStrategic Management Society·JournalStrategic Management Journal·DateMay 21, 2021
Researchers analyzed vertical ozone distributions and found deep stratospheric intrusions contributed to large ozone partial pressure in the troposphere. Long-range transport of wildfire smoke from central Russia in 2016 caused ozone pollution over the northern Tibetan Plateau.
SourceInstitute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences·JournalAtmospheric Research·DateMay 21, 2021
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A new study assesses the complex role of peatlands in wildfires and finds that their smouldering potential is often underestimated. The researchers warn that peat fires can be devastating and have significant feedback with climate change.
SourceMcMaster University·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateMay 18, 2021
Researchers found that wildfires have killed trees, eroding soil and allowing native herbaceous cover to expand, while white-sand savanna tree species dominate the landscape. This shift threatens biodiversity and carbon storage in the Amazon ecosystem.
SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalEcosystems·DateMay 4, 2021
Research Scientist Bok Haeng Baek is collaborating with other institutions on a project addressing anthropogenic emission updates and wildfires. The team will use the National Air Quality Forecast Capability Community Emission Testbed to solve these problems, incorporating NOAA satellite remote sensing and data sources.
The American Thoracic Society releases a report highlighting the need for research on wildfire smoke's effects on respiratory and cardiovascular health, as well as communication strategies to protect public health. The report emphasizes the importance of coordinated federal response and dedicated funding to mitigate health risks.
SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAnnals of the American Thoracic Society·DateMay 3, 2021
A new study from the University of Utah ties worsening wildfire activity to poor air quality events in Western regions, with smoke impacts clear into September. The researchers found consistent trends in air quality correlating with wildfire activity, but with different spatial patterns in August and September.
SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateApr 30, 2021
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New research suggests that the Arctic's increasing plant biomass is not enough to absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide, as most of it is released through fires and timber harvests. The study estimates that only 430 million metric tons of biomass have accumulated over 31 years, with much of it being lost due to wildfires.
SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalNature Climate Change·DateApr 29, 2021
Researchers at UC Riverside develop method to estimate air quality in neighborhoods affected by wildfire smoke, providing critical data for public health officials. The new approach fills gaps in current methods by predicting particulate matter concentrations over short distances.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalAtmospheric Pollution Research·DateApr 21, 2021
Boreal forests can store nearly five times more soil carbon after severe wildfires through shifts to deciduous tree species like aspen and birch. This can provide a negative feedback to climate warming.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 15, 2021
Researchers develop a streamlined process to convert woody biomass into ethanol, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. The technology has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and create new jobs in the bioenergy industry.
SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateApr 15, 2021
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A study published in Nature Climate Change predicts a significant increase in Arctic lightning strikes by the end of the century. This rise in lightning will drive both wildfires and further warming above the Arctic Circle.
SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalNature Climate Change·DateApr 5, 2021
A new study predicts that parts of the UK, particularly eastern and southern England, will face extremely hot and dry conditions conducive to wildfires nearly every other year by 2080 due to climate change. This could lead to a significant increase in wildfire danger, posing environmental, health, and economic risks.
SourceUniversity of Reading·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 24, 2021
Australian wildfires injected massive amounts of smoke into the stratosphere, causing record-breaking levels of atmospheric aerosols in the Southern Hemisphere. The effect was comparable to that of a moderate volcanic eruption and caused significant cooling over cloud-free ocean regions.
SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateMar 18, 2021
A 13-year study in Florida found that biological controls significantly reduced the size of new paperbark tree populations after wildfires. The treatments helped to slow growth and inhibit reproduction, allowing land managers to prioritize removing large trees.
SourceCambridge University Press·JournalInvasive Plant Science and Management·DateMar 10, 2021
Long-range wildfire smoke is associated with increased hospitalizations for asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular health outcomes. Local wildfires were found to be protective of residents' health due to evacuation efforts and media coverage.
SourceColorado State University·JournalGeoHealth·DateMar 9, 2021
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Researchers found that a half-degree of additional warming would likely create a notably greater danger of fire on continents like the Amazon and African savanna, and around the Mediterranean. Suppressing extra warming could reduce climate-driven extreme fire activities in many places, potentially saving lives and billions of dollars.
SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateMar 3, 2021
A rare Australian native bee species, Pharohylaeus lactiferus, has been found again after 100 years, with only six individuals previously recorded. The discovery highlights the species' vulnerability to habitat destruction and wildfires in Australia's rainforests.
SourceFlinders University·JournalJournal of Hymenoptera Research·DateFeb 25, 2021
New research from Carnegie Mellon University reveals that wildfires can lead to more extensive cloud formation and intense storm development due to the chemical aging of particles emitted by these fires. This study's findings have significant implications for accurately modeling Earth's climate and how it may change in the future.
SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalScience Advances·DateFeb 24, 2021
Researchers predict that Alaska will experience a significant increase in thunderstorms by the end of the century, with storms becoming more frequent and intense, especially in southern regions. This shift is driven by warming temperatures and ice-free waters around Alaska, which will fuel atmospheric moisture.
SourceNational Center for Atmospheric Research/University Corporation for Atmospheric Research·JournalClimate Dynamics·DateFeb 23, 2021
Research finds elevated air pollution events, like wildfire smoke and inversions, impact indoor spaces. Indoor air quality is up to 30% of outdoor levels during inversions, while wildfires can increase pollution by 78%.
SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalThe Science of The Total Environment·DateFeb 22, 2021
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Researchers at New York University list measures the Biden administration should consider in recalculating the social cost of carbon, a decade-old cost-benefit metric. The revised SCC will take into account devastating storms and wildfires, and incorporate inequitable effects within and across countries.
Scientists confirm climate change and fire suppression influence wildfires, but their effects vary within regions. Climate change increases burn probability in wetter areas while decreasing severity in drier locations.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateFeb 17, 2021
Research by GIST and Utah State University found that three typhoons in Korea created an atmospheric wave train that amplified weather conditions in California and Oregon, increasing the likelihood of wildfires. The study highlights the global impact of extreme weather events.
SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateFeb 1, 2021
A new study suggests that Native American farmers in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico learned to manage fire as an ally to prevent dangerous blazes, clearing flammable material and promoting forest resilience. The ancient practice of controlled burns could help mitigate modern wildfires.
SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 27, 2021
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Climate scientists have long known that human activities increase wildfire risk, but the specific roles and influences were unclear. A new study quantifies competing anthropogenic influences on extreme fire weather risk, revealing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions as a dominant contributor.
SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 14, 2021
A new study introduces a Resistance-Resilience-Transformation (RRT) classification to assess transformative actions in climate adaptation projects. The RRT classification shows a shift towards more transformative actions, such as species translocation, in recent years.
SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalCommunications Biology·DateJan 14, 2021
A study published in Nature Communications found that wildfire smoke is more cooling than current models assume. The research team used observations from around the world and compared them to climate model results, revealing a significant difference.
SourceUniversity of Wyoming·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 12, 2021
The novel coronavirus was a major focus of chemistry research in 2020, with thousands of papers published on mask efficacy, disinfectants and virus transmission. Other notable topics included new insights into planetary atmospheres and the impact of climate change on wildfires.
SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateJan 6, 2021
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Researchers are tracking black carbon from West Coast wildfires to study its impact on the global carbon cycle and global warming. The first flush of carbon and nutrients from burned land has been captured for the first time, revealing a previously unknown pathway in the chain that connects fire-derived black carbon to the deep ocean.
Wildfire smoke carries microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi, that can spread infection when inhaled. The study highlights the potential for wildfires to become a source of bioaerosols, which can travel long distances and impact human health.
SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalScience·DateDec 17, 2020
Researchers analyzed soil samples from burned and unburned areas in California parks, finding that the oak woodland fungal community was less affected by wildfires than those in evergreen forests. This aligns with the fact that oak woodlands depend on regular fire to thrive.
SourceStanford University·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateDec 9, 2020
Researchers at PNNL investigate the role of soil moisture and atmospheric conditions in estimating fire risk. Surprisingly, just enough humidity can boost lightning ignition, leading to wildfires. The study reveals a rising wildfire trend, with 'compound case' fires striking more frequently than others.
SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateDec 8, 2020
Climate change has led to an eight-fold increase in the annual area burned by high severity fires across western US forests from 1985-2017. This trend poses significant risks to forest ecosystems and human safety, as severe fires can lead to long-term forest loss.
SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 30, 2020
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Indonesian wildfires are a major issue due to their impact on the environment and human health. The project aims to investigate the causes and possible solutions to these fires. Experts believe that the drivers behind the peatland fires are a combination of climatic processes, land use, and ignition by humans.
A new high-resolution map of US land value reveals underestimates in existing cost estimates, highlighting the need for higher funding levels for environmental goals. The tool provides policymakers with realistic expectations for conservation funding, enabling more informed decision-making.
SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 13, 2020
A new report from UCSF links climate change to a significant increase in global cancer rates, particularly lung, skin, and gastrointestinal cancers. The study highlights the need for urgent action to mitigate climate change and reduce air pollution to prevent cancer cases and deaths.
SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateNov 4, 2020
Researchers tracked and flew through wildfire plumes from the source to collect data on how chemical composition changes over time. The study found that smoke forecasts may incorrectly predict particles in staler smoke, which could impact air quality estimates.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 2, 2020
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A global team of researchers found a record-setting smoke cloud from Australian wildfires that measured 1,000 kilometers across and remained intact for three months. The team's findings provide critical information on the impact of wildfires on the Earth's atmosphere, which is expected to increase due to climate change.
SourceUniversity of Saskatchewan·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·DateOct 29, 2020
Researchers studied slope failure after wildfires in Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains, finding a shift from debris flows to shallow landslides over time. The study suggests that land managers prioritize post-wildfire mitigation and planning, with debris flows being the primary concern during the next year.
Research in Colorado's mountain forests found that wildfires accelerate climate-driven species changes by compounding regional warming trends. In contrast, canopy loss due to beetles resulted in slight cooling, suggesting a type of forest resilience.
A University of Pittsburgh professor is utilizing optimization techniques to find effective solutions for mitigating forest fires. The project aims to predict when and where fuel treatment methods should be implemented to best control wildfires.
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Researchers argue that current approaches to attributing extreme weather events to global warming focus too much on raising the threshold for false alarms, neglecting the importance of accurate warnings. By prioritizing probability of detection, climate scientists can strike a better balance between caution and timely warning.
SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateOct 16, 2020
A recent study by USDA Forest Service researchers found that thinning and prescribed fire can significantly reduce tree mortality and increase tree growth. The study compared two thinning methods and found both were effective in reducing tree deaths and promoting healthy forests.
SourceUSDA Forest Service - Pacific Southwest Research Station·JournalForest Ecology and Management·DateOct 14, 2020
A Monash University study warns of devastating impacts of climate change on wildfire seasons, with fuel, oxygen, and ignition source conditions fueling the crisis. Immediate action is needed to limit greenhouse gas emissions and avoid substantial increases in wildfire exposure by the end of the century.
SourceMonash University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 13, 2020
New research shows that climate change is altering the role of the North American monsoon in regulating wildfire season. Without the monsoon's winter rains, winter rainfall and snowpack are not enough to stop severe fires, leading to more destructive blazes. The US may learn from Mexico's land management strategies to mitigate wildfires.
SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateOct 13, 2020
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The Morris Animal Foundation has awarded grants to five studies aiming to improve care and rehabilitation of wildlife impacted by wildfires. The studies will develop guidelines for rescue and rehabilitation, track outcomes, and improve antibiotic treatments.
Researchers found that burned organic matter in sediments ejected from the Chicxulub impact crater likely contributed to the mass extinction event. The analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) suggests a fossil source origin and rapid heating, consistent with rock material ejected during the asteroid impact.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 28, 2020
The Arctic wildfire season is changing, with widespread wildfires burning earlier and farther north. Zombie fires, where fires smolder in peat underground, are a new feature of recent Arctic fires. The consequences for the global climate could be significant, including rapid thawing of permafrost and release of greenhouse gases.
SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 28, 2020
A new study by McGill University researchers finds that combined dry and hot events are increasing in frequency and size, causing widespread damage. The study suggests that climate change is driving these extremes, which can be particularly devastating for agriculture and ecosystems.
SourceMcGill University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 28, 2020
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