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Melting Arctic sea ice linked to ”worsening fire hazards” in Weatern USA

 Arctic sea ice melt has driven an increase in “fire-favourable
weather” across the western US over the past four decades, according to
new research.

The study, published in Nature Communications, finds that low
Arctic sea ice levels during July to October have knock-on impacts in the
atmosphere that push the jet stream northwards. This tends to bring hotter
and drier conditions in the western US over the following autumn, resulting
in more frequent and intense fires in the region, the authors find.

They add that this mechanism may strengthen over the coming decades as the
Arctic melts further, making the western US “even more susceptible to
destructive fire hazards”.

 Carbon Brief 25th Nov 2021

November 27, 2021 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | ARCTIC, climate change