Syracuse Sun

Devastating wildfires in Southern California have led to widespread evacuations, the destruction of over 1,000 structures, and the burning of thousands of acres. The combination of strong winds and dry conditions has been identified as a significant factor contributing to these events.

Two faculty experts from Syracuse University have provided insights into this natural disaster affecting California. Their statements are available for direct quotation, and they are open for interviews.

Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus in the Geography and the Environment Department at Syracuse University's Maxwell School, commented on the fires: “The fires currently devastating multiple neighborhoods in the Los Angeles area serve to remind us of the impact of climate change. The fires are driven by the infamous downslope Santa Ana winds that become hotter and drier as they descend, creating particularly incendiary conditions. These winds are strongest in the winter, but historically by winter there was enough rain to soak fuels and limit wildfires. Thus, Santa Ana-driven fires were usually concentrated in the fall when the winds had begun but fuels were still dry."

Bendix further explained that climate change plays a role: "It is already January, but Southern California remains dry, gripped by drought and high temperatures. Both drought and heat are known to be more likely in the context of human-caused climate change, so the fires burning now cannot be dismissed as anomalous events. We must recognize that such fires are likely to become more common in the future. The news stories each time will fade after a few days or weeks, but the impacts in terms of lost homes and workplaces will last far longer for local residents, and virtually everyone in the region is likely to face escalating insurance costs or difficulty obtaining insurance at all.”

Tripti Bhattacharya, an associate professor in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences, also weighed in: “It’s really devastating to see what is unfolding."

Bhattacharya highlighted several contributing factors: “It is a combination of several factors: one is drought, as Southern California has seen very little precipitation this winter resulting in extremely dry vegetation and soils. On top of that recent days have seen gusts of dry wind typically known as ‘Santa Ana’ winds. These gusts have the ability to cause fire to propagate quickly."

She added: “We cannot attribute a single event to human-caused climate change per se but we do know from peer-reviewed scientific literature that the length of the fire season is increasing. Moreover state-of-the-art models analyzed in peer-reviewed studies have shown that climate change is responsible overall for higher temperatures and drier vegetation amplifying forest fire activity."

Bhattacharya concluded with a warning about future challenges: “This is the new reality communities in places like Southern California are facing.”

For further information or interview requests:

Daryl Lovell

Associate Director of Media Relations

Division of Communications

M 315.380.0206

dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell

Syracuse University