Maui, Greece, Canada, the Western U.S. — across the globe, wildfires are increasing in frequency, size, and severity. Between fire and smoke, few communities are insulated from impacts. Extraordinary events like these will likely become the new normal due to climate change. We are entering uncharted fire territory.
In conversation with Cary Institute President Dr. Joshua Ginsberg, Dr. Winslow Hansen explores how wildfires are transforming landscapes and communities, with a focus on the power of predictive science to address the fire crisis. Topics explored include: impacts to air and water resources, fire-driven shifts in ecosystems, breaking the climate change-fire feedback loop, and how advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and computing can inform stewardship and management that reduce wildfire risk.
Hansen is a forest ecologist at Cary Institute and Director of the Western Fire and Forest Resilience Collaborative, which brings together ten premier research teams to advance a fire science agenda co-developed with decision makers. By weaving together fieldwork, remote sensing data, and state-of-the-art modeling, the Collaborative will ensure the best science guides fire policy, management, and community adaptation.
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