Yellowstone Forests in Peril? Frequent Fires Could Be the End of an American Icon

Wildfires that have been flaring up in the luscious forests and woodlands of Yellowstone are gradually changing the landscape of an American national treasure. The ever-evolving climate in the area is helping to increase the frequency of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres of forests to the ground. With rising temperatures speeding up the snow melting process in Spring, the landscape is able to dry out and heat up faster than ever before.

The last major outbreak of wildfires occurred in 1988, a time when over 1,200 square miles were left charred into twigs after fires roared on for weeks. Back then, conflagrations like these burst out almost every 100 years or so, but with the fires helping to heat the air above it and keep it warm in the long run, these wildfires will be able to grow larger and occur more frequently within the next century. Statistical projections show that by 2050, fires will burn on average about 400 square mile each year, but by 2075, those same projections predict the average to exceed the 1,200 square mile mark set in 1988. Although Yellowstone is covered by more than 10,000 square miles of forests, different wildfires in different areas of this size can spell doom for the woodlands.

Forests that collapse in these fires and regrow naturally, as the flares and ashes act as a natural fertilizer to help replenish the supply. If the fires indeed become more frequent, then more fires burning faster than the regrowth rate will create an eventual end to the iconic forests of a national landmark.

--Weather Intern Steve Engblom