Hotter, Drier, Windier: California Wildfires Under a Changing Climate

California wildfires burned millions of acres this year, destroying entire towns and killing people. As wildfires become more difficult to control and more deadly, scientists say it will only get worse. Now, wind-driven wildfires like the Santa Anas that Southern California experiences, are moving further north and striking when conditions are hotter and drier. This episode of Unfold examines how fire is changing California’s landscapes and how we might manage this going forward.

In this episode:

Malcolm North, UC Davis associate professor and research forest ecologist, United States Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station

Andrew Latimer professor, Department of Plant Sciences at UC Davis

Derek Young, postdoctoral researcher, Andrew Latimer Lab, Department of Plant Sciences

Hugh Safford, affiliate faculty in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy, United States Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region

Emma Underwood, research scientist at the Information Center for the Environment, Department of Environmental Science and Policy