RESEARCH SUMMARY
The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires in Alberta have raised concerns about their possible connection to climate change. This study investigates the relationship between climate variables and wildfire trends in the province, focusing on three subregions: Central Mixedwood, Dry Mixedwood, and Lower Boreal Highlands. Our analysis reveals no significant increase in both annual fire frequency and size since the 1970s, and the general trend did not show a strong correlation with annual temperature and precipitation. We also observed that extreme fire events may be associated with extreme climate conditions on a temporal scale, although a clear causal relationship requires further research. The average fire frequency and size in the three subregions showed an inverse relationship with annual temperature and precipitation, suggesting that factors other than climate may have a more significant impact on the ignition and spread of fires. Our analysis also indicated that the fire season in Alberta has been extended since 2000, with the end of the fire season being delayed from May to September, although the accuracy of this finding is limited by the availability of precise fire event timestamps. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between fire patterns, climate variables, and other factors, and can inform future fire management strategies and contribute to our understanding of the potential impacts of climate change on wildfire activity in the region.
Materials and results of this draft research are restricted to the scope of REN R 690.
Header images: The CPAWS Northern Alberta chapter Adapted from: https://cpawsnab.org/