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Predicting climate change effects on wildfires requires linking processes across scales

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  • Marc Macias Fauria
  • Sean T. Michaletz
  • Edward A. Johnson

Abstract

Accurate process‐based prediction of climate change effects on wildfires requires coupling processes across orders of magnitude of time and space scales, because climate dynamic processes operate at relatively large scales (e.g., hemispherical and centennial), but fire behavior processes operate at relatively small scales (e.g., molecules and microseconds). In this review, we outline some of the current understanding of the processes by which climate/meteorology controls wildfire behavior by focusing on four critical stages of wildfire development: (1) fuel drying, (2) ignition, (3) spread, and (4) extinction. We identify some key mechanisms that are required for predicting climate change effects on fires, as well as gaps in our understanding of the processes linking climate and fires. It is currently not possible to make accurate predictions of climate change effects on wildfires due to the limited understanding of the linkage between general circulation model outputs and the local‐scale meteorology to which fire behavior processes respond. WIREs Clim Change 2011 2 99–112 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.92 This article is categorized under: Paleoclimates and Current Trends > Earth System Behavior

Suggested Citation

  • Marc Macias Fauria & Sean T. Michaletz & Edward A. Johnson, 2011. "Predicting climate change effects on wildfires requires linking processes across scales," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 2(1), pages 99-112, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:wirecc:v:2:y:2011:i:1:p:99-112
    DOI: 10.1002/wcc.92
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Turco & Maria Llasat & Jost Hardenberg & Antonello Provenzale, 2013. "Impact of climate variability on summer fires in a Mediterranean environment (northeastern Iberian Peninsula)," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 116(3), pages 665-678, February.
    2. Philip E Higuera & John T Abatzoglou & Jeremy S Littell & Penelope Morgan, 2015. "The Changing Strength and Nature of Fire-Climate Relationships in the Northern Rocky Mountains, U.S.A., 1902-2008," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(6), pages 1-21, June.
    3. Gabriele Vissio & Marco Turco & Antonello Provenzale, 2023. "Testing drought indicators for summer burned area prediction in Italy," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(1), pages 1125-1137, March.

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