California Insider
“What's causing these fires to get bigger has a lot to do with how we've mismanaged the landscape over the past 100 years. Fire suppression, changes in grazing patterns, loss of wetlands. We've allowed shrubs and grasses to grow underneath them, which can cause fires. If oil is poured on, the city will get more development. The more asphalt and cement there is, the higher the temperature will be.
Siamak sat down with ecologist and author Jim Steele, who has studied the factors behind the increasing number of wildfires in California, and Ian Faloona, a researcher at the University of California, Davis , an associate professor and biomicroclimate scientist at U of S, has been studying how wildfires affect the state’s air quality.
“This is a different type of chemical environment. Not only is this new source becoming visible, it is continuing to grow. This is a new era in how we think about air pollution,” said Professor Faruna.
*The views expressed in this video/article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of California Insider.
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