The Importance of Climate Change for Future Wildfire Scenarios in the Western United States
This report reviews current and projected climate variables that may affect the frequency and severity of wildfires in the Western U.S. for the 21st century. It is one of four case studies in an overall report, titled "Regional Impacts of Climate Change: Four Case Studies in the United States," that examines impacts of particular interest to different regions of the U.S. This section summarizes projections for the 21st century from vegetation models that integrate knowledge of past fire occurrence to simulate changes in fire patterns and their effect on carbon sequestration in western states.
Publication Date: December 2007
Authors or Affiliated Users:
- Dominique Bachelet
- James M. Lenihan
- Ronald P. Neilson
Related Organizations:
- Oregon State University
- The Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)
- U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Sectors:
- Biodiversity and ecosystems
- Forestry
- Land management and conservation
Resource Category:
Resource Types:
- Assessment
States Affected:
Impacts:
- Air temperature
- Drought
- Wildfires
