APPLICATE Case Study: Is Alaska Prepared for Extreme Wildfires

Wildfires are a natural part of the boreal forest ecosystem, which is largely present in Alaska. However, in recent years, the fires seem to be more frequent and intense due to human-forced warming and an overall lengthening of the fire season, which affects local communities, flora and fauna. Alaskan ecosystems are already significantly exposed to impacts of climate change, not least due to temperature increase, which is almost twice the global average rate, largely due to a phenomenon known as Arctic amplification (US Global Change Research Program). Summer 2019 recorded some of the highest temperatures and lowest moisture levels since records are kept (1952) (NASA Earth Observatory). This led to an extreme fire season in the northern state, burning an area of over 1 million hectares. This situation additionally contributed to exacerbating climate change, since the CO₂ stored in the soil and permafrost of these ecosystems had been released. Keeping forest fires under control is becoming an urgent and challenging task for the Arctic region. Predicting this type of events could improve preparedness and help to better protect the towns and communities that are at risk of destruction, e.g. help authorities make evacuations in time or allow the relocation of firefighting resources.