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AK CASC Program Coordinator Publishes Scientific American Article on Wildfire in Alaska

By Climate Adaptation Science Centers June 12, 2019

The Program Coordinator at the AK CASC recently published an article in Scientific American Observations about the growing threat of wildfires in Alaska.

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Turquoise bay waters with forested island and snow-capped mountains in background
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Lituya Bay, Gulf of Alaska

The AK CASC Program Coordinator, Jane Wolken, recently published an article on the Scientific American Observations blog, titled “As Alaska Warms, Wildfires Pose a Growing Threat.” Wolken produced the piece as part of a blogging course through the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, during which participants gained skills in blogging and op-ed writing for magazines, newspapers and other news outlets. Wolken shares her unique experiences as a Fairbanks resident, boreal forest ecologist, and participant in AK CASC research on wildfire projections in Interior Alaska. Wolken and Scott Rupp were featured in a Fairbanks News-Miner article as well. 

 

See the original post on the AK CASC website.

 

Learn more about some of the projects the Alaska CASC has funded related to wildfires in the state:

Projecting Future Wildfire Activity in Alaska’s Boreal Forest

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

Assessing Seasonal Wildfire Forecasting Methods in Alaska

Related Content

link
permafrost

Projecting Future Wildfire Activity in Alaska’s Boreal Forest

Wildfires are a natural occurrence in interior Alaska’s boreal forest. There is extreme variability in the severity of the wildfire season in this region. A single year in which more than one million acres of forest burns can be followed by several years of low to moderate fire activity. In addition, fires in high latitude zones appear to be responding to changes in climate. Warmer temperatures ra
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Projecting Future Wildfire Activity in Alaska’s Boreal Forest

Wildfires are a natural occurrence in interior Alaska’s boreal forest. There is extreme variability in the severity of the wildfire season in this region. A single year in which more than one million acres of forest burns can be followed by several years of low to moderate fire activity. In addition, fires in high latitude zones appear to be responding to changes in climate. Warmer temperatures ra
Learn More
link
Smoke billows from a fire tearing through a pine-tree forest.

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
Learn More
link
Wildfire

Assessing Seasonal Wildfire Forecasting Methods in Alaska

In Alaska, increased wildfire activity has been linked to warming temperatures. Summers with extreme wildfire activity threaten life and property, clog the air with smoke, and challenge the state’s wildland firefighters. While the largest fires are often started by lightning and burn in remote areas, these fires require significant resources to fight when they threaten life and property. Increas
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science
link

Assessing Seasonal Wildfire Forecasting Methods in Alaska

In Alaska, increased wildfire activity has been linked to warming temperatures. Summers with extreme wildfire activity threaten life and property, clog the air with smoke, and challenge the state’s wildland firefighters. While the largest fires are often started by lightning and burn in remote areas, these fires require significant resources to fight when they threaten life and property. Increas
Learn More

Related Content

link
permafrost

Projecting Future Wildfire Activity in Alaska’s Boreal Forest

Wildfires are a natural occurrence in interior Alaska’s boreal forest. There is extreme variability in the severity of the wildfire season in this region. A single year in which more than one million acres of forest burns can be followed by several years of low to moderate fire activity. In addition, fires in high latitude zones appear to be responding to changes in climate. Warmer temperatures ra
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Projecting Future Wildfire Activity in Alaska’s Boreal Forest

Wildfires are a natural occurrence in interior Alaska’s boreal forest. There is extreme variability in the severity of the wildfire season in this region. A single year in which more than one million acres of forest burns can be followed by several years of low to moderate fire activity. In addition, fires in high latitude zones appear to be responding to changes in climate. Warmer temperatures ra
Learn More
link
Smoke billows from a fire tearing through a pine-tree forest.

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers
link

Improving Characterizations of Future Wildfire Risk in Alaska

In Alaska, recent research has identified particular areas of the state where both a lack of soil moisture and warming temperatures increase the likelihood of wildfire. While this is an important finding, this previous research did not take into account the important role that melting snow, ice, and frozen ground (permafrost) play in replenshing soil moisture in the spring and summer months. Th
Learn More
link
Wildfire

Assessing Seasonal Wildfire Forecasting Methods in Alaska

In Alaska, increased wildfire activity has been linked to warming temperatures. Summers with extreme wildfire activity threaten life and property, clog the air with smoke, and challenge the state’s wildland firefighters. While the largest fires are often started by lightning and burn in remote areas, these fires require significant resources to fight when they threaten life and property. Increas
By
Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Wildland Fire Science
link

Assessing Seasonal Wildfire Forecasting Methods in Alaska

In Alaska, increased wildfire activity has been linked to warming temperatures. Summers with extreme wildfire activity threaten life and property, clog the air with smoke, and challenge the state’s wildland firefighters. While the largest fires are often started by lightning and burn in remote areas, these fires require significant resources to fight when they threaten life and property. Increas
Learn More

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