Study Links Global Warming to Larger, More Frequent Wildfires in Western U.S.

摘要

Los angeles—A study released July 6 has linked global warming to a four-fold increase in the average number of large wildfires in the western United States over the last 34 years.rnAfter analyzing forest fire activity since 1970 and comparing it to climate and land-surface data, scientists also found the annual wildfire season is now about 78 days longer than in the mid-1980s, and the fires are six-and-half times larger.rnIf rising temperatures are increasing the risk of wildfires, then efforts to reduce risk through forest management practices may be ineffective, according to the authors of Warming and Earlier Spring Increases Western U.S. Forest Wildfire Activity.