The 2020 California fire season: A year like no other, a return to the past or a harbinger of the future?

Hugh D. Safford; Alison K. Paulson; Zachary Steel; Derek J. N. Young; Rebecca B. Wayman

doi:10.1111/geb.13498

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The 2020 California fire season: A year like no other, a return to the past or a harbinger of the future?

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Hugh D. Safford, Alison K. Paulson, Zachary Steel, Derek J. N. Young, Rebecca B. Wayman

Year:

2022

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/geb.13498

Source:

Global Ecology and Biogeography. 31: 2005-2025.

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Abstract

Wildfire burned area, fire size, fire severity and the ecological and socio-economic impacts of fire have been increasing rapidly in California in recent decades. We summarize the record-breaking 2020 wildfire season in California statistically, evaluate the drivers of high-severity burning in the 2020 fires and consider implications for fire and resource management.

Keywords

2020 fires, burned area, California, fire management, fire severity, fire weather, fuels

Citation

Safford, Hugh D.; Paulson, Alison K.; Steel, Zachary L.; Young, Derek J. N.; Wayman, Rebecca B. 2022. The 2020 California fire season: A year like no other, a return to the past or a harbinger of the future? Global Ecology and Biogeography. 31: 2005-2025.