Increased Fire Activity in Alaska Since the 1980s: Evidence From an Ice Core‐Derived Black Carbon Record

Research reveals that fire activity in Alaska has significantly increased since the 1980s, driven by rising temperatures and not just reduced precipitation. This finding is supported by a unique ice core-derived record of black carbon (soot) from the Wrangell-St. Elias Mountain Range, spanning 1933 to 2001. The study shows that while El Niño events influenced fire activity before the 1980s—likely due to below-normal precipitation—temperature became the dominant factor post-1984, with high BC levels coinciding with normal or low precipitation but elevated temperatures. This shift aligns with broader trends observed in Alaska's fire records and climate data, suggesting that warming conditions are now driving increased wildfire activity in the region.

Sierra‐Hernández, M. R., Beaudon, E., Porter, S. E., Mosley‐Thompson, E., & Thompson, L. G. (2022). Increased Fire Activity in Alaska Since the 1980s: Evidence From an Ice Core‐Derived Black Carbon Record. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 127(2). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jd035668