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So why do wildfires in the American West keep getting bigger?
Both NASA and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have predicted that wildfires are likely to be more frequent and widespread because of climate change. That happens for two reasons: Higher temperatures, and also a drier climate.
The IPCC report emphasized that this is a particular threat in North America, and especially the Western U.S., where the amount of land destroyed wildfires in 1987-2003 was almost 7 times larger than from 1970-1986. The most recent IPCC report on extreme weather also warned that conditions resulting in wildfires are going to increase with climate change.
The U.S. Drought Monitor’s data showed that at one point this spring, nearly 61% of the lower 48 U.S. states were suffering dry conditions. NOAA reported that April 2012 (the latest for which they have complete data) was the third warmest on record and that the U.S. Southwest showed conditions of exceptional drought.
While reporting on the New Mexico fire, only a handful of media reports have mentioned the increased risk of wildfires in a warmer world. A lot of reporters don’t seem to be connecting the dots. This is a big omission, because instead of recognizing a growing risk and taking steps to combat it, we’re turning a blind eye toward a dangerous trend.
Susan Elizabeth Bell
June 7th
There were wildfires in the Northern border of my state near the Wyoming Border. The world is getting warmer, and the are more wildfires in the world. There must be a solution.
Susan Elizabeth Bell
June 7th
There have been tornado warnings in my State (Colorado). We used to not get warnings like this but now we do. We also had numerous record breaking temperatures.
lora
June 8th
When I see dead forests, I see wildfires. Some coniferous trees need fire to reproduce. I am afraid that when you do not look after forests, they die. The forests will burn until we get a little more proactive.
Livvy McMahill
June 8th
I live in Southwestern Colorado near the San Juan Mtns…We had a 5-6 year drought about 10 years ago that weakened the pine trees, Pinon trees, Gambol Oak & Aspen trees…
This allowed the pine & Pinon beetles to flourish…Killing millions of acres of our forests…
Once the wildfires started…There was no stopping them…Because of all the standing dead trees…They burned so hot…That they created their own firestorms…The trees actually Leaped out of the ground…Sucked skyward by the fire tornadoes…The fire jumped the Colorado River in Glenwood Springs AND the four lane interstate 70…Rushed up Storm King mountain…Overtaking & incinerating 14 firefighters…These forests are still here…The ones that haven’t burned are dying at an incredible rate…
This year during March & April…Which are usually what we call the monsoon season…We got TWO rain storms…
The others just passed over us…We could see the rain coming out of the bottom of the clouds in sweeping curtains…But they never reached the ground…
These conditions…Coupled with the transmountain diversion tunnels that take water from the headwaters of our rivers under the mountains to Denver & the other large cities…Added to the fact that the oil companies are using VAST amounts of our water for drilling their gas wells…& Global Warming…We have a formula for Absolute Disaster…
The whites in my family have lived here 7 generations…The Indian half of us thousands of years…We weep for our Mountains…The future may very well contain no forests for our grandchildren…
Susan Elizabeth Bell
June 10th
Wow! You live in Colorado too? It’s dry out here isn’t it. That can’t be good for all the dead trees, I hope you don’t lose your home.