With President Trump blaming forest management for California wildfires, many wonder about the role of climate change—and scientists say it is a factor, National Geographic reports. While… US News Summaries.
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With President Trump blaming forest management for California wildfires, many wonder about the role of climate change—and scientists say it is a factor, National Geographic reports. While wildfires are normal in California, the state’s fires have generally gotten larger since 2000 as hotter and drier years go on record. That means warmed air is drawing water from soils and plants, making shrubs, trees, and grasslands more likely to burn. The summer dry season is also getting longer, letting plants get drier. “We’ve been lengthening fire season by shortening the precipitation season, and we’re warming throughout,” says UCLA climate scientist Daniel Swain. “That’s essentially what’s enabled these recent fires to be so destructive, at times of the year when you wouldn’t really expect them.” For more, including Fox News’ take:
