NSF Science Matters: Wildfire and climate change: A burning issue
By Jared Dashoff
September 2, 2021
Wildfires are a nearly constant threat to lives, homes and business – an impact that cannot be diminished – but they are also a threat to ecosystems and climates. A changing climate can make some areas more susceptible to fire and increase the prevalence and size of fires in existing hot spots. Recent research shows the Rocky Mountains are burning more than at any time in the last 2,000 years due to climate change.