Wildfires Have Significant Impact on Snowmelt, According to Two Studies

Yale Climate Connections has written an article discussing two studies that examine the impact of the Western U.S.’s wildfires on the region’s snowpack. For the first, scientists attempted to measure the local and regional effect of wildfires on the snowpack while, for the second, researchers focused on determining the amount of impact wildfires had on the snowpack compared to climate change as a broader phenomenon.

Overall, these studies found that, when wildfires occurred, there were long term impacts on nearby snowmelt. After a local area experiences a fire, snow can begin to melt three to four weeks earlier than predicted. More broadly, wildfire-related impacts on seasonal snowmelt patterns can last over a decade after a fire has occurred. As the drought in the Western U.S. continues and wildfires remain a significant risk, these conclusions highlight key areas of concern for regional water management. Read more at Yale Climate Connections.