The climate loop: 6 ways global warming is fuelling US fires

Sep 24, 2020

A helicopter makes a water drop over the Bobcat Fire burning near Mount Wilson in the Angeles National Forest, near Los Angeles, U.S., September 23, 2020. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni - RC2Q4J91JM55

Increased global emissions lead to higher temperatures, which create drier, more fire-prone conditions. Image: REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni

Nancy Harris

Research Manager, Global Forest Watch, World Resources Institute

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Cumulative fire alerts in California, United States Image: Global Forest Watch

Fires and the climate feedback loop. Image: Global Forest Watch

Average annual temperatures are increasing. Image: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

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Cumulative burned area, 2000-2020. Image: National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)

Emissions so far this year are 3 times higher than average. Image: Global Fire Emissions Database (GFED)

Rising temperatures and atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Image: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) and Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML)

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