A study suggests that wildland fires in the Arctic are influencing winter weather patterns — and the effects could ripple far beyond just a seasonal disruption. 

What's happening?

A research team used satellite data from 1982 to 2018 to show how Arctic wildland fires have become increasingly prevalent. As a result, snow cover is forming later in the year. Fire-impacted areas saw more than 15 days of shortened snow cover duration. 

The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature Climate Change, identified the terrain's lower "albedo" as the reason for this phenomenon, as burnt tundra absorbs more solar radiation than unburnt areas, leading to increases in temperature. 

Why is this important?

Wildfires can occur naturally and play an essential role in wildland ecosystems, sparking a "period of rebirth and vigor in post-fire environments by removing dead materials and by releasing nutrients back to the environment," as the California Coastal Commission explains. 

However, a warming climate has caused fire season to become longer and more destructive, with extreme wildfire activity more than doubling globally, according to NASA. 

Without successful measures to limit the rise of global temperatures — driven higher at an unprecedented rate because of human activities — researchers expect this trend to continue holding true in the Arctic, further altering the cycle of snowpack accumulation. This would reduce water resources, destabilize agricultural productivity, and lead to food insecurity. 

"Ultimately, recognizing the significance of the connection between reduced snow cover and frequent wildfires is crucial for protecting ecosystems, communities, and biodiversity from the cascading effects of climate change," the researchers wrote. 

What can be done about this?

Drip irrigation is a growing technique that reduces water usage by delivering water more effectively to plant roots. Scientists are also leveraging robotics and artificial intelligence to understand crop life cycles, leading to more sustainable water management systems. 

While these developments provide short-term relief and spark optimism for the future of agriculture, the scientific consensus is that pollution from fossil fuels — coal, oil, and gas — is the primary culprit behind the human-induced rise of global temperatures. 

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