Climate change wields a double-edged sword in terms of fire

Climate change models predict more fires for the tinder-dry Western United States and high latitudes where carbon-rich peat soil will burn under extremely warm weather conditions. But some parts of the world will see less fire due to climate change, reported the New York Times.

That is because global climate models largely agree that areas near the Equator will see more precipitation with climate change, according to Max Moritz, UC Cooperative Extension specialist in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley.

“This would — all other things being equal — tend to dampen prospects for fire in the equatorial rain forests,” Moritz said, adding that further research on seasonal precipitation patterns was needed.

The Rim Fire near Yosemite may be a foretaste of major fires to come. (Photo: U.S. Forest Service.)

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