Loss of Arctic Sea Ice Increases Risk of Major Wildfires in the US

Nature Communications, October 26

Rising global temperatures accelerate the decline of Arctic sea ice extent, which this study associated with increased likelihood of wildfires in the western United States. Loss of Arctic sea ice cover exposes the dark surface of the ocean to greater warming from sunlight. This warmer Arctic Ocean surface water causes a shift in the polar jet stream. Such shifting air currents exacerbate dry and hot conditions in the western United States, reducing rainfall, elevating surface air temperatures, and lowering the vapor pressure (which makes it more difficult for moisture in the air to turn into water droplets). These large-scale shifts to hotter and drier conditions set the stage for massive wildfires. Authors emphasize the importance of curbing global emissions to slow the loss of Arctic sea ice, stabilize the jet stream and reduce the devastating casualties and losses associated with large-scale wildfires.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-26232-9