Earth ID: 13253

A Drier Future Sets the Stage for More Wildfires

Released on July 9, 2019

Droughts can create ideal conditions for wildfires. Dry trees and vegetation provide fuel. Low soil and air moisture make it easier for fires to spread quickly. In these conditions, a spark from lightning, electrical failures, human error or planned fires can quickly get out of control. As Earth’s climate warms and precipitation patterns change, increasingly severe droughts will leave some areas of the world vulnerable to increasingly severe fires. Understanding how fires behave in dry conditions can help firefighters, first responders and others prepare for a hotter, drier future.

Source Material

Using Tree Rings to Study Human Influence on Hydroclimate

Megadroughts in U.S. West Projected to be Worst of the Millennium

New NASA Campaign Tracks Wildfire Smoke for Improved Air Quality Forecasts Live Shots

Credits

LK Ward (USRA): Lead Producer
Jessica Merzdorf (Telophase): Lead Writer
Ben Cook (NASA/GSFC): Scientist
Kate Marvel (NASA/GSFC GISS): Scientist
Cindy Starr (GST): Visualizer
Greg Shirah (NASA/GSFC): Visualizer
Kel Elkins (USRA): Visualizer
Aaron E. Lepsch (ADNET): Technical Support

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

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Keywords:
SVS >> Drought
SVS >> Fire Management
DLESE >> Human geography
DLESE >> Natural hazards
GCMD >> Earth Science >> Human Dimensions >> Natural Hazards >> Fires
SVS >> Climate Change
NASA Science >> Earth
SVS >> Freshwater

GCMD keywords can be found on the Internet with the following citation: Olsen, L.M., G. Major, K. Shein, J. Scialdone, S. Ritz, T. Stevens, M. Morahan, A. Aleman, R. Vogel, S. Leicester, H. Weir, M. Meaux, S. Grebas, C.Solomon, M. Holland, T. Northcutt, R. A. Restrepo, R. Bilodeau, 2013. NASA/Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Earth Science Keywords. Version 8.0.0.0.0