California Burning

Last night, I was driving up I-5 from Castaic, California up to the exit to west I-580. A brush fire was being fought as I drove by in the passes near Castaic. Through the evening, I saw several other, smaller, brush fires as I travelled north.

Coincidentally, there is a report that researchers have examined the records from 1970 to 2003 and found that the duration and severity of the wildfire season in the American west has tracked the rise in temperature. Apparently, as global temperature rises, I can expect to see more wildfires during travel. Another point made is that the expected outcome is for wildfires to make the problem worse, since burnt trees aren’t converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into plant components.