As climate change reshapes Alaska’s landscapes, tundra fires are getting worse

  • 📰 adndotcom
  • ⏱ Reading Time:
  • 36 sec. here
  • 2 min. at publisher
  • 📊 Qulity Score:
  • News: 18%
  • Publisher: 63%

Historically, fires affecting the Southwest Alaska tundra have been small and infrequent. As climate change continues to reshape the state’s environment, tundra fires are becoming both more frequent and more severe.

United States Headlines News

United States Latest News, United States Headlines

That’s unusual since most of Alaska’s fires tend to burn in the state’s Interior boreal forests, between the Brooks Range and the Alaska Range.

That’s due to several factors. Statewide, Alaska is experiencing higher temperature trends that can cause drying, which in turn can spell more frequent and intense fires. In some areas where once not-flammable lichen and moss grew, there might be more flammable grass and shrubs growing instead. So when lightning strikes, it’s more likely to lead to a fire, and a fire that spreads, she said.

Thoman also noted the western spread of the state’s boreal forest — meaning that over the long term, a tundra fire in Southwest Alaska may just be considered a forest fire, with warmer summers able to support tree growth.The trend of increasing tundra wildfires isn’t playing out the same around the state.

We have summarized this news so that you can read it quickly. If you are interested in the news, you can read the full text here. Read more:

 /  🏆 293. in US
 

Thank you for your comment. Your comment will be published after being reviewed.
Please try again later.

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Tundra wildfire creeps closer toward Alaska Native communityA tundra wildfire has moved closer to an Alaska Native community in southwest Alaska, but mandatory evacuations have not been ordered. DUMB.... stop already....
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »

Half of Pilot Station is without running water as tundra fire nears - Alaska Public MediaBy Monday, the fire burned about 12 miles from the village, and the Pilot Station mayor said that he may soon have to turn off running water to the entire community.
Source: AKpublicnews - 🏆 387. / 55 Read more »

Historic tundra fire spreads within 3.5 miles of St. Mary's as another fire burns 10 miles from Sleetmute - Alaska Public MediaThe incident commander on the East Fork Fire says the “biggest challenge we’re looking at right now is the fire situation around the state and starting to feel pressure on the number of resources that are available.'
Source: AKpublicnews - 🏆 387. / 55 Read more »

Fires and smoke in AlaskaWith all the smoke in the area, you might be wondering where the smoke is come from and how close the fires are.
Source: KXDF News 13 - 🏆 266. / 63 Read more »

Tundra wildfire creeps closer toward Alaska Native communityA tundra wildfire has moved closer to an Alaska Native community in southwest Alaska, but mandatory evacuations have not been ordered. DUMB.... stop already....
Source: ksatnews - 🏆 442. / 53 Read more »

Half of Pilot Station is without running water as tundra fire nears - Alaska Public MediaBy Monday, the fire burned about 12 miles from the village, and the Pilot Station mayor said that he may soon have to turn off running water to the entire community.
Source: AKpublicnews - 🏆 387. / 55 Read more »