This archive report was first published on 29 October 2019.
California's Wildfire Crisis: A Perfect Storm of Bad Trends and Bad Luck ¶
California's devastating wildfire season has been a stark reminder of the state's vulnerability to natural disasters. The 2019 season, in particular, has been one for the books, with the Getty Fire raging and causing widespread disruption.
According to Adam Sobel, an atmospheric scientist and director of the Initiative on Extreme Weather and Climate at Columbia University, the recent trend of severe wildfires can be attributed to a combination of bad luck and poor maintenance by utilities, as well as global warming.
As Sobel notes, the 2017 and 2018 wildfire seasons were particularly severe, with some regions and people being affected repeatedly in quick succession. The psychic trauma experienced by residents and firefighters on the front lines is a significant concern.
But what about the future? How should Californians think about the future when the present is suddenly and persistently outside their prior experience? The answer lies in understanding the complex interplay of factors that contribute to these disasters.
Research by Park Williams, an expert on wildfire and climate, shows that the area burned by fires each year in the summer months has increased drastically, consistent with the influence expected from global warming. However, as Williams explains in his recent research article, the headline-making fires of the last three years have all occurred in fall, where temperature has a role, but other factors, such as the dry Diablo and Santa Ana winds, are likely to be more important.
