Nature Communications (Nov 2021)

Multi-decadal increase of forest burned area in Australia is linked to climate change

  • Josep G. Canadell,
  • C. P. (Mick) Meyer,
  • Garry D. Cook,
  • Andrew Dowdy,
  • Peter R. Briggs,
  • Jürgen Knauer,
  • Acacia Pepler,
  • Vanessa Haverd

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27225-4
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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The degree to which wildfire activity in Australia is affected by climate change is not well quantified. Here, the authors show that the frequency of forest fires and the area burned have increased significantly over recent decades, mainly due to an increase in dangerous fire weather conditions through warmer temperature and circulation changes.