This year, wildfire acreage in California has been well below average and is being eclipsed by the lightning-initiated wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. The nearly fire-free California situation is evident satelite/ fire image from yesterday (active fires shown by the orange dots).
Lots in Washington and Oregon, very little in California.
In fact, according to official CALFIRE statistics (shown below), the total acreage this year is LESS THAN HALF of the five-year average!
Can you imagine if the wildfire acreage was twice the average? The supposed connection with climate change would be on the front page.
The bottom line is that there is no rapidly increasing globe-warming-induced wildfire trend in California. Such claims are demonstrably false.
Want proof? I asked Google Gemini whether California was having a low wildfire year (see below). Its answer was the OPPOSITE of the truth.
In fact, some media and others are actively pushing the unsupported narrative:
Ready for the Truth?
Let's look at the actual wildfire data for California!
Consider the actual burned area data for the past 30 years (below). A period in which global warming has been occurring.
You see a large trend? I don't.
There was a short period in the early 2020s when unusual meteorology drove some big fires, but the wildfire numbers have declined since then.
This lack of a long-term trend in California wildfire activity actually occurred during a period of increasing human ignitions of wildfires (e.g., from powerlines, arson, etc.).
In fact, the best estimates are that humans have initiated roughly two-thirds of wildfires in California since 1992 (see below). I suspect these ignitions have had little to do with global warming. At the same time there there has been an invasion of non-native flammable grasses.
The bottom line is that there is no rapidly increasing globe-warming-induced wildfire trend in California. Such claims are demonstrably false.
Finally, let me note that you can not believe AI inquiries on this topic.
Want proof? I asked Google Gemini whether California was having a low wildfire year (see below). Its answer was the OPPOSITE of the truth.
I then told it was wrong, and it admitted it was fibbing
I wish the Seattle Times, YouTube Channel climate activists, and others would be willing to look at the data and acknowledge they have been providing inaccurate information regarding the climate/wildfire connection.
40-year IT veteran here.. my advise is to never ask of, or listen to, anything from AI. Just shut it off.
ReplyDeleteYou are commenting on an article that says California fires are burning 30 times more area than 40 years ago. You may be right that this is not true but your graph of past burned area only goes back 30 years. Can you show a graph of area burned say for the past 50 years or longer?
ReplyDeleteIn the orange-dot map, just beneath the "SH" of Washington, there is a smoke plume. The GOES WEST from yesterday at 2201 shows this clearly. Lightening on July 15 hit the SE side of the "Three Queens" just northwest of the north end of Kachess Lake. Yesterday (8/8) winds caused an expansion. The smoke came over the Kittitas Valley mid-day at about 6,000 feet. Quite impressive. Still up there but lowering into the Valley. {an AI-free comment}
ReplyDeleteIt is truly awesome that California has had a low fire year. But what about the rise in heat this year in the oceans - seems like it is at its historical highs? Seems like a problem?
ReplyDeleteI am surprised- ChatGpt said it’s lighter than normal
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis. To answer the question why hasn't is the media not telling the story? Answer = $$$$$ clicks! We all know the media exists to make money.
ReplyDeleteUnlike the honest, God fearing fossil fuel industry
DeleteHave you observed an above average fire season elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteBig Climate is at it again! Darn you, Al Gore!
ReplyDelete