Climate Change and the 2021 North American Wildfire Crisis

In 2021, North America faced an unprecedented wildfire crisis exacerbated by a massive heat dome that settled over the Pacific Northwest. A recent study in Communications Earth & Environment revealed that human-caused climate change played a significant role, expanding the heat dome by 34% and prolonging its duration by nearly 60%. Led by Piyush Jain from Natural Resources Canada, researchers found that the heat dome intensified hot and dry conditions, fueling wildfires that charred millions of acres and claimed lives across the continent. This study underscores the urgency of addressing climate change to mitigate the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like heat waves and wildfires.

#2021 #change #climate #american #north #crisis #wildfire #climateemergency