Large fires create weather that supports more fires

Many studies look at the impact of climate change on forest fires. However, this study sought to understand the opposite – whether large fires also change the climate. "I wanted to learn how aerosols emitted by wildfires when they burn affect the weather," said study lead author and UCR doctoral student James Gomez.

To find his answers, Gomez analyzed the highest fire days and emissions from each fire season over the past 20 years. Of those fire days, he examined a subset that occurred when temperatures were lower and humidity higher. “I looked at abnormally cold or wet days during the fire season, with and without fires. That mostly removes the fire weather effects,” Gomez said.

Study published in journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics found that large fires did have an impact. On days when fires were burning, they made it hotter and drier than usual. Increased heat and dryness can then create favorable conditions for another fire. (Jules Bernstein, University of California - Riverside, more at phys.org)