Wildfires (Photo : Reuters)
A recent study has established that climate change and wildfires have a causal relationship. The research found out that, in the vicious cycle, wildfires have a detrimental effect on climate change.
According to Time, the new research indicated that climates that are extremely hot and dry as a consequence of world climate change are the cause of the worsening situation of wildfires globally. On the other hand, the wildfires are intensifying climate change by eliminating vegetation that takes in carbon dioxide.
The research, which was published in the Nature Communication Journal, established that for more than 25 percent of the earth's surface covered by vegetation, the fire period has greatly extended between 1979 and 2013. The report, however, indicated that, globally, the overall increase in the fire seasons was approximately 19 percent - a trend experienced in all continents except Australia.
According to the authors of the research, "Wildfires occur at the intersection of dry weather, available fuel and ignition sources. Weather is the most variable and largest driver of regional burned area."
The study indicated that South America remains the worst hit continent, experiencing vivid increases in the intensity and number of wildfires. The Washington Post reported that scientists are concerned about the connection between wildfires and climate change. South American forests have experienced a fire season increase of 33 days.
The authors added that besides losing our forests, the wildfires cause a feedback loop. They further explain that wildfires destroy forests reducing the number of trees, which absorb carbon - the core cause of climate change.
