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Human-induced climate change made Los Angeles wildfires 35% more likely, according to World Weather Attribution report. The authors noted that the LA wildfire season is getting longer, while the rains that normally help extinguish these fires have become less frequent, reported BBC. The scientists emphasise that while many factors contribute to these wildfires, they are confident that a warming climate is making LA more prone to intense fire events.
Southern California is experiencing a global phenomenon called hydroclimate whiplash, which refers to sudden, extreme swings between extreme wet and dry conditions, according to Earth.com. The report states that hydroclimate whiplash has increased worldwide by 31% to 66% since the mid-20th Century, with the trend is accelerating due to human-driven climate change. Predictions suggest that these extreme fluctuations could more than double if global temperatures rise by 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. According to DowntoEarth, for every degree Celsius of warming, the atmosphere’s capacity to hold moisture increases by 7%, compounding the severity of both droughts and floods.
Why are LA Wildfires Hard to Contain?
Los Angeles wildfires are difficult to contain due to a combination of climate change, human activity and past land-management practices. Rising temperatures and aridity lead to a dry vegetation that catches fire more easily and fuels faster, thereby spreading fires, reported Phys.org. In addition, another Cooperative Institute for Research In Environmental Sciences (CIRES) study reveals that nights are warming faster than days are, and there are 11 more flammable nights every year in the US West—a 45% increase. The warmer nights reduce natural cooling, allowing fires to continue through the night. This issue is further compounded by winds that push embers and heat ahead of the fire, leading to spot fires and erratic behavior of wildfires.
Before European settlers, fires were a natural part of the ecosystem, with Indigenous people using controlled burns to maintain the land. Fire suppression policies displaced these practices, allowing vegetation to build up and create more fuel for wildfires. While native plants are adapted to cycles of wet and dry conditions, invasive species like mustard and thistle grow quickly after rainfall and dry out in droughts, becoming highly flammable and worsening wildfire risks, as reported by The Guardian.
While lightning can ignite wildfires, humans are responsible for an increasing share. From unattended campfires to arson or sparks from power lines, over 84% of the wildfires affecting communities are human-ignited, according to another study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. As urban development continues in fire-prone regions, the risks of more frequent and devastating wildfires only grow.
