Extreme weather conditions, including a prolonged drought and strong winds, have created ideal circumstances for devastating wildfires to erupt in Los Angeles. While the exact role of climate change is still under investigation, scientists emphasize its contribution to intensifying heat and driving wildfire activity. The situation has intensified political debates surrounding forest management and suburban sprawl.
A prolonged dry spell combined with strong winds has created the'perfect conditions' for Los Angeles wildfires to rage out of control, even though experts say it's too soon to pinpoint exactly how much climate change contributed. At the same time, perennial debates over suburban sprawl and forest management are intensifying, spurred by political mudslinging from incoming President Donald Trump and his close ally Elon Musk.
'We see these fires spread when it is hot and dry and windy, and right now all of those conditions are in place in southern California,' Kristina Dahl, vice president for science at Climate Central, told AFP.While it's not yet known what started the blazes,'human-caused climate change is intensifying the heat that drives wildfires, increasing temperatures in southern California up to two degrees Celsius since 1895', Patrick Gonzalez, a climate change scientist at the University of California, Berkeley told AFP. 2024 is set to be named the hottest year on record for both the United States and the world, capping a decade of unprecedented heat. Firefighters battle the Eaton Fire as it engulfs structures on Jan 8, 2025 in Altadena, California. (Photo: AP/Nic Coury) A firefighter works while battling the Palisades fire on Jan. 8, 2025, in Malibu, California. (Photo: AP/Etienne Laurent)Although wildfire activity can vary greatly from year to year, short-term extreme weather conditions helped create the'perfect conditions' for the recent blazes, said wildfire scientist Maria Lucia Ferreira Barbosa of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Last year's El Nino weather system brought heavy rains that fueled excessive vegetation growth in the first half of 2024. But the second half of the year was marked by drought across southern California, setting the stage for what scientists call'precipitation whiplash', another potential hallmark of climate change that turned the region into a tinderbo
Wildfires Climate Change Drought Los Angeles Forest Management
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wildfire Ravages Los Angeles Suburb, Forcing EvacuationsA massive wildfire fueled by hurricane-force winds ripped through the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles on Tuesday, destroying buildings and prompting panicked evacuations. Thousands of residents fled their homes, leaving behind cars and valuables as flames engulfed the area. Firefighters battled the blaze from the ground and air, facing challenging terrain and strong winds. Despite the chaotic scene, there were no immediate reports of deaths or injuries.
Read more »
Yoon Suk Yeol Resisting Arrest as Protests Rage in South KoreaSouth Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is defying arrest warrants as political turmoil intensifies. Protests erupt in Seoul, demanding his arrest and questioning his legitimacy.
Read more »
LA Urges Water Conservation as Wildfires Strain City's SuppliesMajor wildfires in Los Angeles have depleted the city's water reserves, prompting officials to urge residents to conserve water. The situation is particularly dire in the Pacific Palisades area, where water tanks have run dry.
Read more »
Thousands Flee Homes as Wildfires Ravage Southern CaliforniaMultiple devastating wildfires tore through Southern California, destroying over a thousand structures and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate. The blazes, fueled by strong winds, burned uncontrollably near Los Angeles, scorching hillsides and threatening homes.
Read more »
Julian Lennon Undergoes Emergency Skin Cancer SurgeryJulian Lennon, son of the late John Lennon, revealed he had to undergo emergency skin cancer surgery after being diagnosed with melanoma. The 61-year-old singer was in New York for a press tour when he received the urgent news and had to return to Los Angeles for the operation. He expressed his gratitude to his doctors and is awaiting the biopsy results.
Read more »
New Zealand Allocates Funding to Olympic and Paralympic Sports Ahead of 2028 GamesNew Zealand has announced NZ$162.8 million in government funding for Olympic and Paralympic sports leading up to the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. The funding allocation prioritizes sports that performed well at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Read more »