Frontiers in Science: Wildfire, Water, and Climate Change

Frontiers in Science presents Adam Atchley and a look at how scientific tools and expertise empower society to better predict and respond to fire behavior in complex conditions.

Climate change causes catastrophic wildfires threatening communities, critical ecosystems, and resources. Prescribed burns improve ecosystems and reduce wildfire intensity but antiquated data and tools hinder planning in our rapidly changing and densely populated landscapes.

Los Alamos National Laboratory provides innovative scientific tools to safely manage burns to maximize ecosystem stability, reduce carbon release, and protect human health, air quality, and water resources. These tools include novel 3D fire, hydrologic, and ecosystem modeling; an atmospheric forensics facility; and portable, rapid simulators that capture site-specific conditions in real-time.

Free.