Wildfires in Europe and North America are growing more extreme, with Spain’s wildfire being the country’s largest on record at over 193 square miles. In Canada and the United States, land burned by wildfires is at least 25% higher than the 10-year average and more than double what it was decades ago.
Global Burning Trends
However, despite the increase in wildfires in North America, global burning is actually decreasing. This is due to Africa and Asia controlling fires more, with changing agricultural practices, fire management, and human demographic change playing a role.
Experts say that climate change is making fires more extreme in North America and Europe, with hotter temperatures and drier conditions creating ideal fire weather. The developing El Nino weather pattern is also expected to worsen fire activity in the coming months.
Scientists are calling for improved planning and adaptation for worsening wildfires, including prescribed burns to thin excess trees and grasses. It’s not a question of whether landscapes will burn, but when they will burn.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
