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New research published this week in the journal Science says that global warming may be causing more intense wildfires in the western United States. The researchers found that increases in large wildfire activity in the western United States over the past 25 years is “strongly associated with increased spring and summer temperatures and an earlier spring snowmelt.”

Taken from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5541423 in concerned with global warming

So we the human beings are going to do what to protect ourselves and to protect the environment?

We’ve already done significant damage to the environment and the atmosphere - perhaps this will get the attention of those who don’t particularly care about the effects of global warming.

I had noticed that over the past two or three years, a lot more forest fires were being reported in the news. In addition to this, many were particularly fierce and did a lot of damage - If you think about it, increased atmospheric temperatures would seem to make these occurances both more frequent and destructive.

Major forest fires are an annual occurance now, aren’t they?  I once did a report on forest fires, and while they are beneficial every few years to get rid of some of the dead vegitation, these repeated occurences aren’t even giving vegetation renewal (a normal and healthy environmental process) a chance.

Indeed, forest fires are reported almost weekly on a smaller scale, and, as you pointed out, pretty much annually on a major scale.

I’m intrigued as to how forest fires are good for clearing dead vegitation? Doesn’t the vast majority rot and release any nutrients back into the soil or is it too dry in some parts hence the “advantage” of a forest fire?

I’m not questioning you - merely interested to know why

not to sure if its we get more instant worldwide news now , but it seems to be a much more common event than 20 years ago

With the last forest fire in California and all of the damage it has done it seems that the global warming idea may have a point.  Any more fires like this way soon may be more than that area can sustain.

Although it’s hard for us o know the relationship between the global warming and the extensive fire fires and the drought or excessive rain some parts of the country has had this year it does seem possible that it is all related.

I believe that it is all related.  How couldn’t it be?  There are too many natural disasters going on in the world lately compared to years ago.

jlcp - 24 November 2007 12:41 PM

I believe that it is all related.  How couldn’t it be?  There are too many natural disasters going on in the world lately compared to years ago.

Japan is the live example for us.The largest tsunami catastrophe in the history of earthquakes in Japan.Japan was hit by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded.

Global warming is affecting everyone. And your site of http://www.npr.org is also good.