A new computer simulation model highlights the importance of cultural burning in maintaining forest ecosystem health. Researchers found that Indigenous fire stewardship was extensive across a landscape in northern California before European colonization, with an estimated 6,972 cultural ignitions occurring annually.
Researchers studied how climate change impacts boreal forests' carbon absorption after fires. They found that regrowth is influenced by the partnership between plants and soil microbes, which weakens with climate change.
A recent machine learning study has discovered a surprising link between wildfires in the western United States and hailstorms in the central US. The research, led by Jiwen Fan, used ML algorithms to analyze vast datasets spanning two decades, predicting hail storms with remarkable accuracy.
A new UM study found that fire suppression leads to severe ecological impacts and accelerates burned area growth. Suppressing low- and moderate-intensity fires results in more extreme fires under extreme conditions.
Researchers found that Indigenous communities in California were exposed to 1.7 times more wildfire smoke than expected, with the average annual exposure being a critical factor in understanding long-term health effects. The study proposes new metrics to measure cumulative exposure and duration of smoke exposure.
A new study predicts that cooler, wetter parts of the Pacific Northwest will experience increased fires due to climate change. The region's highly productive forests are vulnerable to larger and more frequent blazes, which could impact drinking water sources, timber resources, and biodiversity.
Researchers used advanced computer models to simulate the Lahaina Fire, which killed 100 people and destroyed over 2,200 structures. The simulation showed how strong winds whipped up a brushfire and drove flames through neighborhoods, helping scientists develop more detailed predictions of wildfires in populated areas.
Researchers found that more extreme and frequent droughts could lead to a nearly five-fold increase in total area burned, from 231 sq mi in 2016 to over 17,000 sq mi by 2100. Fires would also become more frequent, returning to certain forest points every five years.
New research by Oregon State University scientists reveals that forests on the west slope of Oregon's Cascade Range experienced frequent fires between 1500 and 1895. The study found that these historical fires were relatively small and had no strong link with dry air, suggesting Indigenous fire stewardship.
A new study analyzing data spanning over three decades finds a concerning trend of increasing wildfires in the eastern United States. The research highlights the need for proactive forest management and individual preparedness for people living in the region, particularly in areas with the highest risk from wildfire.
Researchers at Ohio State University are testing the use of Synthetic Aperture Radar to help with wildfire detection and improve first responders' ability to predict and respond to deadly forest fires. The new tool has potential for tracking wildfires from start to finish, monitoring soil moisture, and discerning flame-prone areas.
A recent study analyzing US wildfire events from 2014 to 2022 found that low-income and black populations receive less personnel and funding during wildfires. High-income neighborhoods, on the other hand, receive more attention and resources in disaster response and recovery efforts.
A 20-year study confirms that prescribed burning and restoration thinning can reduce wildfire risk and boost forest health. The treatments improve tree resilience to drought and bark beetles without harming biodiversity. Combining thinning with fire produces the best results, making forests more resilient to climate change.
Research finds national parks and protected areas in Thailand are more prone to forest fires when located far from indigenous communities. Collaborative work with local communities reduces forest fires and air pollution, highlighting the importance of indigenous practices.
Researchers analyzed satellite data on medium-sized and large wildfires in Utah from 1984 to 2022, finding that medium-sized fires had significant impacts despite smaller size. The study suggests that looking at these 'hidden' fires can help inform decisions on prescribed burns and predict future fire behavior
Recent US legislation aims to increase fire management and tree planting to reduce large destructive fires and promote carbon sequestration. Fuel reduction activities are projected to remove 194-288 million metric tons of carbon from western forests over the next decade.
Researchers investigated the effects of megafires on California's wildlife habitat, analyzing over 600 species. They found that high-severity fires impacted 100 species, with 16 considered conservation concern, yet some species may find refuge in unaffected habitats.
Prescribed fire can improve forest health and reduce catastrophic wildfires, but barriers hinder its use. Four strategies can overcome these obstacles: fostering a supportive culture, providing dedicated funding, building capacity and cooperation, and implementing monitoring and adaptive management.
A new study by Columbia University and Stanford University finds that low-intensity fires can dramatically reduce the risk of devastating wildfires in California forests. The analysis reveals a 60% reduction in risk after a low-intensity fire burns, with effects lasting at least six years.
A new study found that wildfires and drought have led to a 10% reduction in the value of private timberland in three Pacific states over the past two decades. Climate change is attributed as the primary cause of this damage, with large wildfires causing an additional 8.7% loss.
Research reveals that smoke from individual extreme forest fires can lead to global impacts, influencing the energy balance of the atmosphere and global climate. The study found a significant temperature increase in upper air layers and weakening of lower stratospheric circulation.
Researchers at Stanford and Columbia universities found that low-intensity fires can dramatically reduce the risk of devastating wildfires for years at a time. By analyzing satellite data from over 100,000 square kilometers of California forests, the team showed that controlled burning can significantly decrease the risk of high-intens...
Research reveals that lightning ignitions account for 77% of burned areas in intact extratropical forests, which store vast quantities of carbon. Climate change is projected to increase lightning frequency, posing a significant threat to these forests and the planet's carbon storage.
Climate change is increasing wildfire risk, with fires in the Western US doubling in frequency between 1984 and 2015. Banana trees, when irrigated by recycled water, can produce high-value crops and act as a multifunctional fire buffer.
A new study using satellite imagery found that fires in boreal forests shift from coniferous to deciduous trees, but these changes are reversible over time. The study's findings suggest that continued climate warming and increased wildfire activity could lead to pronounced changes in forest composition.
A recent study using SENTINEL-2 satellite images estimated burned areas with 96% accuracy, revealing a much larger area affected by wildfires than previously thought. This higher precision will help improve estimates of greenhouse gas emissions and inform fire management decisions.
Researchers found that subalpine forests in the Northern Rockies consistently recovered from wildfires over 4,800 years, with lake sediment cores providing a detailed record of past ecosystem responses. The study suggests that these forests are resilient to fire now, but future climate change may alter this resilience.
Uncontrolled wildfires are threatening environmental progress in Brazilian Amazonia, a critical carbon sink. Deforestation rates have fallen, but fire counts remain high, driven by hotter and drier climate conditions.
Research from Colorado State University shows wildfire smoke can attach to home surfaces like carpet and drapes, extending exposure and potentially causing health problems. Simple surface cleaning, such as vacuuming or mopping, can reduce exposure and limit risk.
A new study by UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain finds that climate change is limiting the use of prescribed fires to prevent wildfires. The research projects a 17% reduction in favorable days across the Western US, with most reductions coming in spring and summer.
Researchers at the University of California, Irvine have found that decades-old remains of large trees are a major contributor to fire severity in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. This discovery could help improve the state's wildfire management efforts through targeted fuel treatments and prescribed burns.
A study suggests that dispersal plays a major role in microbial succession after a fire. Researchers found that the emerging microbial communities in the soil surface changed with the seasons and plant reappearance, driven by dispersal. Dispersal from air contributed significantly to microbes entering the soil surface.
A new study found that over 2 billion people are exposed to potentially health-impacting wildfire smoke each year, with a significant increase in exposure levels over the past decade. The study highlights the severity and scale of landscape fire-sourced air pollution and its impact on public health, particularly in low-income countries.
By 2070, 44.61% of koala habitats in Australia will be highly susceptible to bushfires, up from 39.56% today. Koalas may struggle to survive due to habitat fragmentation and food source vulnerability.
A recent study by the University of Cordoba confirms that controlled burning has minimal short-term effects on soil properties, but can improve fertility and biological properties. Long-term assessments show that alterations are recovering pre-burn values.
Researchers analyzed wildfire data to find that fireworks-caused ignitions are concentrated on tribal lands and in the western U.S., with more ignitions in the week leading up to the 4th of July. The day after the holiday often sees a spike in ignitions, while weekends tend to have fewer wildfires.
A study by Oregon State University found that forest thinning is enhancing native biodiversity and improving the resilience of older trees on federal lands in eastern Oregon. The research, led by James Johnston, involved long-term monitoring and partnerships between OSU, the US Forest Service, and local groups.
Satellite data reveals an increase in nitrogen dioxide levels in remote forest areas of California, attributed to wildfires and soil emissions. The findings suggest a growing concern for air pollution in rural areas, highlighting the need for policy interventions.
A new modeling tool called REBURN can simulate large forest landscapes and wildfire dynamics under different management strategies. The tool shows that setting prescribed burns and allowing smaller wildfires to burn can yield more varied and resilient forests over time.
A Washington State University-led study found that dry lightning can cause wildfires despite up to 7.7 mm of precipitation, posing a risk for responders to detect fires earlier. The research analyzed data on over 4,600 naturally caused fires and found holdover fires, which can smolder for days before exploding into full-blown wildfires.
Researchers are working to understand and predict wildfires' effects on the environment, including their impact on the carbon cycle and biodiversity. Studies have shown that repeated wildfires can accelerate the transition from tree- to shrub-dominated ecosystems, reducing plant diversity.
Scientists found that contemporary fires in dry conifer forests are burning hotter and killing more trees than in previous centuries, due to a lack of low-severity fires. Regular management and prescribed fires can help mitigate this trend and restore resilience to these ecosystems.
Melinda Adams' research highlights the benefits of pyromantic or 'good fire' in reducing environmental dread, fostering control, and promoting carbon storage. Her work, co-authored with Erica Tom and Ron W. Goode, aims to educate students and community members about Indigenous land stewardship and climate solutions.
Research from Cornell University estimates that wildfire smoke can cause between 4,000 and 9,000 premature deaths and cost between $36 to $82 billion per year in the United States. Metropolitan regions near fire sources are likely to experience a large health burden and economic loss.
Dr. Dave E. Calkin has been recognized with the prestigious Ember Award for his contributions to wildland fire science, including developing tools and strategies for risk management and decision-making. His work aims to improve the effectiveness of wildfire management systems, supporting the health of public lands and communities.
Researchers found that controlled burns in key areas of northern California, western Oregon, and eastern Washington could drastically reduce wildfire smoke exposure throughout the entire western U.S. This is due to prevailing winds carrying smoke across the continent and abundant dense vegetation fueling smokey fires.
A new study led by University of Florida forest management researcher Victoria Donovan found that as woody plants like shrubs and trees replace herbaceous plants like grasses, spot fires can occur farther away from the original fire perimeter. This 'woody encroachment' increases the risk of structural damage and firefighter safety.
A new study reveals that Indigenous people in the Amazon Basin are twice as likely to die prematurely from smoke exposure due to wildfires than the broader South American population. Exposure to harmful smoke particles is highest during the dry season, and mortality rates can be up to 6 times that of the general population.
A new online tool predicts the potential abundance of Black-backed Woodpeckers after fire by incorporating pyrodiversity into forest management decisions. This helps balance human and wildlife needs in post-fire landscapes.
Researchers found Mountain Quail were more common than thought, with positive associations to high-severity fires. They were most positively associated with areas that had burned in the past 6-10 years, but also showed positive relationships ranging from 1 to 35 years after fires.
A study found that savanna species in Cerrado biome produce significantly more bark than forest species to protect against frequent fires. This adaptation enables them to survive and regenerate after burning, highlighting the importance of controlled fire management in these ecosystems.
A decade-long study suggests Indigenous-managed forests can absorb up to 26,000 metric tons of dangerous pollutants from wildfires each year, preventing an estimated 15 million cases of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. This absorption saves Amazon cities US$2 billion a year in healthcare costs.
SourceBurness·JournalCommunications Earth & Environment·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 6, 2023
The study reveals that a lack of community involvement and inadequate governance are major contributors to wildfire management in the Amazon region. Local stakeholders identified deficiencies in institutions, staff cuts, and underinvestment as significant vulnerabilities.
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have built and tested a full-scale bushfire safe room that demonstrates excellent heat resistance. The results suggest the shelter could keep people alive for up to two hours in extreme conditions, but further testing is needed to confirm human survivability.
Lehigh researchers develop new method to predict wildfires by analyzing power system ignition risk, considering mechanical behavior of conductor cables under strong winds. The study finds that encroachment probability is highly sensitive to vegetation clearance and wind intensity, providing valuable insights for decision makers and pol...
Research suggests that wildfires need to fall within a narrow severity range to improve forest health. The study found that moderate severity fires are most effective at reducing community and ecosystem risk, but even these may not be enough to restore species composition. Land managers can use the predicted post-fire conditions to inf...
Warmer and drier climate conditions are making it less likely for trees to regenerate after wildfires, according to new research published in PNAS. Ecological forest management can partially offset climate-driven declines in tree regeneration by limiting fire-caused tree death, but only if action is taken quickly.
A Stanford-led study estimates that about 20% of all Sierra Nevada conifer forests are mismatched with the climate around them. This means they are temporarily surviving in habitats that have grown too warm for them, but are likely to be replaced by tree species better adapted to the climate after catastrophic wildfires.
A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution found over 74,000 active fires in the Brazilian Amazon during the period, mainly due to recent deforestation. The research also revealed a sharp increase in forest fires on public lands and areas of Indigenous reservations.
A new technique maps the effects of fire-induced permafrost thaw in Alaska, revealing widespread topographic change and vegetation shifts. The study used a machine learning-based approach to quantify thaw settlement across 3 million acres of land, with results showing a significant loss of evergreen forest and shrubland encroachment.