Chapter 8: Answers
Impacts of Climate Change on Wildfires
Comprehension Questions
- What is the key factor mentioned for the increase in the severity of wildfires in the North American west coast? Answer: Climate change has been the key factor for increasing the severity of wildfires.
- Give two examples of ways that climate change specifically contributes to wildfires. Answer: The ongoing climate crisis increased the occurrence of heat waves and droughts.
- What do climate models help us to understand? What specifically can this help us to understand about wildfires? Answer: The climate models help people understand how rising concentrations of greenhouse gases affect temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind. This can help researchers predict the location and severity of wildfires.
- In what ways have humans contributed to the problem of increasing wildfires? Give one specific example. Answer: Any 1 of the following – soil moisture deficits during warmer weather; earlier snow melts; and the reduction of snow water, which leads to greater risks of wildfires.
- What are some ways that we can address climate change and reduce the incidence of wildfires? Give two specific examples. Answer: Any 2 of the following – Forest managers, community leaders, and policymakers have to take sustainability into consideration and protect the carbon storage in the Pacific Northwest forests; thinning of dense forests, removing fuels, and prescribed burning; empower Indigenous communities and strengthen Indigenous fire stewardship practices; compensate for the destruction caused by intensified wildfires; communities could invest in air filtration systems in public buildings; electric utility companies may improve equipment and infrastructure to avoid incidents such as large outages.
