Articles tagged with Wildfires
A PSU study analyzed the meteorology behind the September 2020 Western United States extreme weather event, which caused record-breaking cold temperatures and early-season snowfall in the Rocky Mountains. The research found that a highly amplified wave pattern persisted for several days, fueled by dry air from western Canada.
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.
Researchers found that reduced fire severity due to drought creates an environment conducive to invasive species, particularly non-native grasses. This transformation leads to a decline in native species abundance and diversity. The study advocates for strategies considering wildfire frequency and invasive species control post-fire.
A new portable sensor has been found to accurately measure black carbon concentrations as well as a regulatory standard sensor, filling a massive gap in air quality monitoring. The sensor's portability and affordability make it suitable for remote or inaccessible sites, allowing for more comprehensive data collection.
A large study found that wildfires lead to an increase in anxiety-related emergency department visits in the western United States, exacerbating a growing public health crisis. The research suggests preventative measures like closing windows and limiting outdoor activities can help mitigate the effects.
New research shows that native wildflowers, which typically thrive after wildfires, are losing out to invasive plants due to nitrogen pollution from vehicle emissions. Invasive species outcompete native ones, leading to declining plant diversity and ecosystem imbalance.
The 2019-2020 'Black Summer' bushfires in Australia resulted in a $2.8 billion loss to the tourism industry, with almost 7300 jobs disappearing nationwide. The study found that the impact of the fires was felt across the entire economy, with the Australian tourism industry being particularly vulnerable.
A recent study published in Allergy found that climate change has negative effects on atopic dermatitis, including increased inflammation from air pollution and stress from droughts. The researchers called for further research to address the impact of multiple climatic factors on eczema incidence and prevalence.
A new study has provided critical information for improving koala care during subsequent fire seasons. Koalas affected by the Australian bushfires were found to have severe footpad burns and lung damage due to smoke inhalation, hindering their tree-climbing abilities and escape from fires.
New research finds that PAHs in wildfire smoke can persist on indoor materials for weeks, posing health risks. Effective household cleaning techniques, such as laundering cotton and using glass cleaners, can significantly reduce exposure.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital observed a surge in atopic dermatitis and eczema cases during the summer of 2023, coinciding with peak carbon monoxide levels from wildfire air pollution. This correlation suggests that exposure to pollutants from wildfires may contribute to the development or worsening of skin conditions.
Researchers have developed a new web-based software platform called Wildfire Safe Egress (WISE) that allows emergency planners to design custom-made evacuation plans. The tool uses data on demographics and road networks to simulate wildfire scenarios and calculate safe evacuation probabilities. By analyzing the Camp Fire disaster, rese...
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.
Research from the University of California San Diego finds that wildfires transform lakes and aquatic ecosystems, storing more carbon and emitting less CO2. The study suggests a shift in the role of aquatic systems in the global carbon cycle, with potential consequences for aquatic health and fisheries.
A new study assesses future fire risk using multiple fire danger indices, finding that climate change will increase extreme wildfire risk and extend fire seasons. The study projects a significant increase in wildfire risk across the US, with certain regions experiencing more than 40 additional days of extreme wildfire danger per year.
A new study reveals that wildfires have worsened air quality in the western US, mainly due to increased frequency and ferocity of fires, resulting in a significant increase in premature deaths. The study found black carbon concentrations rose 55% annually in fire-prone areas, contributing to a decline in air quality.
Researchers found that coast redwood's massive carbon reserves fueled growth of new leaves after a catastrophic fire, allowing the forest to begin regenerating. However, many trees did not survive, and it may take centuries for the ecosystem to fully recover.
Researchers at UC Santa Barbara discovered that wildfire ash adds nutrients to marine systems, benefiting microbes and plankton growth. Ash enriched seawater with nitrogen sources, metals, and silicic acid, promoting primary production in coastal ecosystems.
A study published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences found that record-setting Canadian wildfires had a significant impact on air quality across the Northern Hemisphere. The research used numerical air quality models to simulate the dispersal of pollutants from the fires, revealing widespread effects beyond Canada and the US.
Researchers aim to identify contaminants in ash, soil, and surface waters from the Maui fire, posing risks to human health. The study will also help educate communities on the presence and risk of contaminants, informing prevention measures for future fires.
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 highlights short-term increases in fine particulate air pollution associated with increased health care visits for heart attacks and unstable chest pain. The risk for each cardiac event differs by season, with summer wildfires causing immediate hospitalization needs for chest pain but delayed action for heart attacks.
A study of 110 Colorado facilities found that 74.5% are at risk of climate-related hazards, including wildfires, heatwaves, and floods. Incarcerated individuals from marginalized communities face added risk due to poor infrastructure and lack of agency.
A new study published in Conservation Physiology identifies the critical limits of plant function under stress, enabling more effective conservation strategies. By understanding these limits, conservationists can identify vulnerable species and allocate resources more wisely.
Researchers from UNC Greensboro have developed new methods to predict the impact of global changes on 'grassy' ecosystems, which cover 40% of the Earth's land surface. The study aims to improve mathematical models that forecast changes in these ecosystems, including food production, pollinators, and carbon sequestration.
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.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame found that social media engagement improves when national and local levels mismatch audiences during recovery phases, increasing user engagement by 29.6%. The study suggests a nuanced approach to content coordination, with national headquarters leading production and local accounts following.
A new study from SMU fire scientist Christopher Roos reveals that Pacific island wildfires are not solely driven by human activity, but also by climate change. Research found fires predate human settlement by thousands of years and corresponded to droughts linked to El Niño events.
A new synthesis paper presents opportunities for prescribed fire in wilderness areas to restore natural qualities and honor human relationships with the land. Experts agree that deliberate restoration of fire can increase ecosystem health under more predictable conditions.
The National Science Foundation has added Worcester Polytechnic Institute to its Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center, a collaboration between universities and industry. WPI will leverage its expertise in fire protection to study new fire detection methods, robotics solutions for first responder safety, and fire suppression systems.
A new study reveals that people with high social vulnerability are more exposed to wildfires in Oregon and Washington, with the number of exposed individuals tripling between 2011 and 2021. The study highlights the need for tailored wildfire preparation and response strategies for individual communities with different risk factors.
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 new study identifies locations where proactive forest management can reduce carbon loss and protect communities from wildfires in the Western United States. Proactive forest management techniques like thinning, prescribed fire, and cultural burning can help keep carbon in forests and reduce wildfire risk.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a serious cause of concern in wildfire emissions. Researchers found that information on combustion temperatures can help estimate VOC emissions, with over 70% of variability explained by two temperature factors for 22 long-lived VOCs.
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 nationally representative study found that higher residential levels of fine particulate matter were associated with greater rates of incident dementia. The findings suggest that intervening on key emission sources could have value in reducing dementia risk, although further research is needed.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis discovered that wildfires emit dark brown carbon, a potent climate-warming particle that absorbs solar radiation. This finding has broad implications for climate models and highlights the need to revise existing approaches to account for the unexpected effects of brown carbon.
Researchers found that individuals exposed to wildfires within a year of lung cancer surgery had significantly lower overall survival rates compared to those not exposed. The closer the exposure occurred to the surgery, the worse the survival rate, with patients exposed 3-6 months after surgery facing a 48% decrease in survival chances.
A recent study analyzing camera trap images found six wildlife species, including coyote and gray fox, to be remarkably resistant to the Mendocino Complex Fire's impacts. Small patches of tree cover spared by the fire provided a refuge for these animals, allowing them to recover and even spread back into burned areas.
A new framework identifies three dimensions of justice: distributional, procedural, and restorative justice. These dimensions arise across four phases of wildfire risk management, impacting social, economic, cultural, and ecological dimensions.
A recent study led by the University of Colorado Boulder found that burning from the Marshall Fire left a mark on buildings, with elevated concentrations of carcinogenic materials like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) detected in dust samples. The research aims to inform best practices for recovering after future wildfires.
Researchers investigated climate change's effect on extreme weather events like wildfires and found a 'worst-case' scenario could lead to significant increases in intensity, frequency, and duration. The study emphasizes the need for proactive measures, including emission reductions and adaptation strategies, to build resilience.
A study published in Ecosphere found that national park attendance numbers remained steady despite the presence of high levels of wildfire smoke. The researchers used breakpoint modeling to analyze data from 1980-2019 and found that even dramatic amounts of smoke did not deter visitors.
A new study finds that clean energy microgrids can reduce power outages in wildfire-prone areas of California by up to 30%, cutting costs from 15-30 cents per kWh compared to conventional technologies.
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.
Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology created a digital platform to enable organizations to share satellite data, accelerating earth science research. The New Observing Strategies Testbed (NOS-T) facilitates complex missions like wildfire spotting and landslides prediction without revealing private information.
Researchers have found sedimentary archives in sand dunes that can reconstruct reliable, multi-millennial fire histories. The discovery aims to expand scientific understanding of fire regimes around the world and uncover the role of humans on fire history.
Physicians are urging primary care teams to use data-driven approaches to prevent and mitigate climate-related health issues, dubbed "precision ecologic medicine". This approach combines patient-specific data with climate-related information to predict and support vulnerable patients.
Fungal spores found in dung indicate large animals went extinct in two waves in the Colombian Andes, with major impacts on ecosystems. The study reveals that megafauna existed for thousands of years before disappearing and reappearing again, highlighting the sensitivity of habitats to local herbivore declines.
A new detection technique reveals that megafires emit significantly more methane than previously thought, posing challenges to California's climate goals. Researchers used remote sensing to measure methane emissions from wildfires, finding nearly 20 gigagrams of methane emitted by a single fire.
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...
Researchers developed a deep learning model that provides improved predictions of air quality in wildfire-prone areas, distinguishing between wildfires and non-wildfires. The ST-Transformer model uses sparse attention to prioritize relevant information and captures trends associated with wildfires.
A new MIT study reveals that smoke particles from Australian wildfires can trigger chemical reactions that erode the protective ozone layer. The research found a 3-5% depletion of total ozone at mid-latitudes and widened the Antarctic ozone hole by 10% in 2020.
Researchers from Pusan National University studied compound extreme weather events in northern East Asia and found that a lack of soil moisture led to increased evaporative stress, amplifying heatwaves and triggering compound droughts and heatwaves. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for societal safety.
Researchers discovered that certain microorganisms dominate burned soil after a wildfire, with some species increasing in abundance and others consuming charcoal. This finding could help revive megafire dead zones and provide insights into the human microbiome's response to stress.
A new analysis found that human ignitions started 76% of the wildfires that destroyed structures in Western states, leading to increased structure losses. The study suggests that policymakers can lessen the risks of wildfire damage by addressing human-related ignitions and promoting fire-resistant building materials.
A recent study, led by Purdue University researchers, identified key decisions and resource limitations during the Marshall Fire in Colorado. The findings highlight ways to minimize drinking water safety risks and expedite recovery for wildfire-vulnerable communities.
A recent study reveals that high-severity wildfires are increasing in Sierra Nevada and Southern Cascade forests, with the average annual area burned at high severity nearly quintupled since before Euro-American settlement. This trend is concerning as most affected forest types are adapted to low-to-moderate severity burning.
Researchers found that wildfire exposure led to difficulty in sensory interference processing and increased frontal cortex activity, similar to PTSD symptoms. Cognitive deficits persisted 6-12 months post-wildfire, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address climate trauma.
A study published in Environmental Research Letters finds that human-ignited fires are responsible for over 67% of small smoke particles called PM2.5 in the US, leading to 20,000 premature deaths annually. The research highlights the need for ignition-focused management plans to reduce human-ignited fires and minimize health impacts.