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Because it's highly doubtful whether climate change actually leads to more wildfires. After all higher temperatures also means more air moisture. It's extremel

by zosima 3y ago

Because it's highly doubtful whether climate change actually leads to more wildfires. After all higher temperatures also means more air moisture. It's extremely clear to everyone even slightly involved that land management has a huge influence on risk of wildfire and especially the spread of wildfires. This is a solid empirical fact, and does not need guessing, models or complex statistics to realize.

deleted 3y ago
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RoyalHenOil 3y ago
Global warming causes changes to air pressure in different locations, which in turn induces changes to wind patterns. These changed wind patterns are what we call climate change. Wind patterns drive rain patterns; some areas with receive higher rainfall than they did historically, and other areas will receive lower rainfall. (Along similar lines, not all places will become warmer. Some will become colder due to changes in wind patterns, despite the average global temperature being warmer.) Air moisture, in and of itself, does not affect wildfire risk. Wildfire is more likely when there is less soil moisture than local vegetation requires. Warmer air can allow soil moisture to evaporate more quickly, and if wind then carries that moist air away (so that it precipitates in a different location from where it evaporated), you end up with drought in that location, which will absolutely increase the risk of wildfire.
- rcme 3y ago
  It’s also possible that higher air moisture leads to more wildfire risk. The moisture in the air needs to come from somewhere, after all. More moisture in the air means less in the ground.
  - RoyalHenOil 3y ago
    Yes, water evaporates faster on a hot day than a cold day. It's all about that relative humidity. Additional moisture in the air only helps prevent wildfire if it leads to an increase in rain. So if moist air blows in from somewhere else and then cools down, you will have a reduced risk of wildfire in that location. However, the location that lost its moist air will be drier and have an increased fire risk.

by zosima 3y ago

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

RoyalHenOil 3y ago

Global warming causes changes to air pressure in different locations, which in turn induces changes to wind patterns. These changed wind patterns are what we call climate change. Wind patterns drive rain patterns; some areas with receive higher rainfall than they did historically, and other areas will receive lower rainfall. (Along similar lines, not all places will become warmer. Some will become colder due to changes in wind patterns, despite the average global temperature being warmer.) Air moisture, in and of itself, does not affect wildfire risk. Wildfire is more likely when there is less soil moisture than local vegetation requires. Warmer air can allow soil moisture to evaporate more quickly, and if wind then carries that moist air away (so that it precipitates in a different location from where it evaporated), you end up with drought in that location, which will absolutely increase the risk of wildfire.

rcme 3y ago
It’s also possible that higher air moisture leads to more wildfire risk. The moisture in the air needs to come from somewhere, after all. More moisture in the air means less in the ground.
- RoyalHenOil 3y ago
  Yes, water evaporates faster on a hot day than a cold day. It's all about that relative humidity. Additional moisture in the air only helps prevent wildfire if it leads to an increase in rain. So if moist air blows in from somewhere else and then cools down, you will have a reduced risk of wildfire in that location. However, the location that lost its moist air will be drier and have an increased fire risk.