Climate change is driving the scale and impact of recent wildfires that have raged in California, say scientists. Click here to read the full story.
Their analysis finds an "unequivocal and pervasive" role for global heating in boosting the conditions for fire.
California now has greater exposure to fire risks than before humans started altering the climate, the authors say.
The worst wildfires in 18 years have raged across California since August. They have been responsible for more than 30 deaths and driven thousands of people from their homes.
Now, a review of scientific research into the reasons for these fires suggests rising temperatures are playing a major role.
Earlier this year, the same research team published a review of the origins of Australia's dramatic fires that raged in the 2019-2020 season.
That study showed that climate change was behind an increase in the frequency and severity of fire weather - defined as periods of time with a higher risk of fire due to a combination of high temperatures, low humidity, low rainfall and high winds.
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