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This thread collects and addresses popular wildfire myths that are currently circulating the internet like ... wildfire. Please free to add to this thread @LeroyWesterling @johnfocook @PeterGleick and other experts.
Myth #1: the wildfires stop at the border.
Truth: By definition, maps based on US federal data don't show fires outside US borders; but it doesn't mean they don't exist. Here's a US map (left) and
map (right). We do a bit better with recognizing we're part of a continent 
Truth: By definition, maps based on US federal data don't show fires outside US borders; but it doesn't mean they don't exist. Here's a US map (left) and
map (right). We do a bit better with recognizing we're part of a continent
Myth #2: as there's less wildfires in Canada than the US *at the moment* that somehow proves climate change isn't real
Truth: Other times there will be more: that's weather, a single day, week or year. Climate is the long-term trend over decades. Watch:
Truth: Other times there will be more: that's weather, a single day, week or year. Climate is the long-term trend over decades. Watch:
Myth #3: wildfire can be EITHER arson or climate change but not both.
Truth: most wildfires in the lower 48 states are human-ignited but they are burning *much greater area* due to hotter, drier conditions + vegetation as a result of climate change.
Truth: most wildfires in the lower 48 states are human-ignited but they are burning *much greater area* due to hotter, drier conditions + vegetation as a result of climate change.
Myth #4: the only reason wildfires are burning more area is because of poor forest management (and "raking" would fix that)
Truth: Forest management absolutely plays a role; but "raking" doesn't work and climate change is making it a lot worse. Read: https://twitter.com/ErinEARoss/status/1305303927936544770?s=20
Truth: Forest management absolutely plays a role; but "raking" doesn't work and climate change is making it a lot worse. Read: https://twitter.com/ErinEARoss/status/1305303927936544770?s=20
Myth #5: those alarmists claim climate change is responsible for things that have always happened naturally
Truth: climate change is - according to the US military - a threat multiplier. It takes naturally-occurring events and makes them WORSE. Watch:
Truth: climate change is - according to the US military - a threat multiplier. It takes naturally-occurring events and makes them WORSE. Watch:
Finally, for a thorough review of the myths about how climate isn't changing, or it is but it's the sun or volcanoes or natural cycles, see: https://twitter.com/KHayhoe/status/1032652591841386497?s=20
And for a global perspective on wildfire--since, as our 2009 PLoS paper showed, climate change may actually decrease fire in some ecosystems and that's not necessarily a good thing either ( https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0005102 )--read @carbonbrief's excellent explainer: https://www.carbonbrief.org/explainer-how-climate-change-is-affecting-wildfires-around-the-world
Here's an addition on the arson myth - according to CalFire, 7% of California's large fires were known to be deliberate. The rest were primarily accidental human ignitions + some lightning and some unknown. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/How-California-s-biggest-wildfires-ignited-13907244.php
Myth #6: the wildfires and/or the smoke and/or climate change is being caused by a secret military experiment
Truth: The only geoengineering happening right now is at miniscule scales and is well-documented. There are no secret expts.
Truth: The only geoengineering happening right now is at miniscule scales and is well-documented. There are no secret expts.
