Is there a link between California fires and global warming?

Question

A-Does global warming cause (i mean increase the likelyhood) of brush fires in California in recent years (less rain per year, drier vegetation, etc)?

B-Do large brushfires cause (contribute to) global warming (deforestation, generation of heat and CO2, etc)

Or are these effects A and B neglectable?

Answer 1

I was overlooking the valley at the heart of the Witch Fire (San Diego County) yesterday before the fire started. I was struck by the miles and miles of blond grass. The only bits of green where the live oaks. Even our fall colors have gone from green to yellow to brown because of the drought.
I think both A and B are correct. And the horrendously strong Santa Ana winds have been like a bellows to a forge. So Cal have not had such fires in living memory. I think we must figure the unusual heat and extended drought conditions must be contributing cause.

Answer 2

It appears the primary reason for the start of the fires was arson. Global warming contributes to conditions that make such the fires spreading widely and rapidly more likely. The warm and drier conditions would make the fast growth brush that benefited from the higher average rainfall just a few years ago more likely to burn.
And yes, the release of the greenhouse gases from the fire would contribute to even greater levels of those in the atmosphere.

Also, you might want to ignore the above comment about Mount Pinatubo. All the Volcanoes combined, even when there is a large eruption such as Pinatubo, emit between 120 to 230 Million tonnes of CO2 every every year. Human activity is about 130X higher emits 27 billion tonnes of CO2 every year.

Answer 3

It has nothing to do with global warming. Well, maybe remotely assuming the globe is, in fact, warming. The fact is that here in California we get two strong winds a year that occur during the fire season. This is one of those times and this is fire season. The heat certainly is a factor as to why the fires are occurring now (and almost every year at this time) but we are also getting the Santa Ana winds blowing through here and they are serious business and carry fires much faster than usual.

Answer 4

first off, there is a mathematical theory (the name of which escapes me at the moment) which states that if you look closely enough you can find any two things to be connected. so you should not only be thinking' is there a link' but also 'is that link significant'?

A - yes. many scientists claim that one of the effects of global warming will be erratic rainfall (and weather patterns in general). there could be floods miles away from terrible drought.

B - consider this: everything that is alive on this earth is constructed with carbon. life forms are in fact the most efficient ways to store carbon. when there is a massive release of carbon this most definitely adds to the greenhouse effect. you must also consider however that the release of carbon in a dirty fire like these they are not really breaking down the carbon molecules very well (hence we see smoke). much of this will float around and make it easier for clouds to form, adding to the effect of global dimming. global dimming is known to counteract global warming.

i'm afraid to say that like most problems dealing with global warming, the answer to your questions are not as simple as yes or no. the computer models required to forecast the answers to your questions are far to complex and from what i know about global warming we are some way from them at present. good question though.

Answer 5

Little to none. THe fire is mainly from other types of environmental damage people created. The fire was not even caused by hotter than normal weather. People building houses where they don't belong. Overpopulation, which cause our land to be dryer. Bringing foreign bugs that cause tree deaths. Building power lines in area where winds can be fierce. Fire prevention that allows a greater amount of timber to accumulate, there fore when a fire does break out, it is worse. These things are higher up the list of causes of the fire.

Answer 6

Why yes! Fires are caused by global warming. And fires are a major cause of global warming.

This is the start of the cycle where we get positive feedback that the consensus of 99% of all scientist say is going to doom the planet!

Answer 7

WEll of coarse. This YEAR ALONE, SAN DIEGO HAS HAD THE DRYEST YEAR IN 130 YEARS, SINCE RECORDING STARTED. NOT EVEN AN INCH OF RAIN. I THINK ITS RAINED LIKE 3 TIMES AND ITS ALMOST NOVEMBER.!!!! SO THERES NO DOUBT THAT GLOBAL WARMING IS TAKING A TOLL. ESPECIALLY SAN DIEGONS WHICH DRIVE SUV'S.

Answer 8

The answer to your question.......NO

A & B are pointless comments.

The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo released more CO2 and green house gasses in that one eruption than man has created in all of history. Even the great Al Gore can not dispute nor explain this, so he avoids it altogether.

Answer 9

It's a mistake to attribute any specific weather in any one place to global warming.

But, in the long run, CA is likely to see more drought due to global warming, and thus more and worse fires.

B is pretty small. The direct heat is insignificant.

Answer 10

like i live in the area and no duh IT DOESNT INVOLVE GLOBAL WARMING
ok heres the thing
if you dont live in l.a.
YOU HAVE NO CLUE
every october we get a heat wave
the yearly santa ana winds happened to come at the same time
and there may have been arsony involved
and we need the brush to burn so we can fresh plants