Mmastodon EnvironmentClimate first seen 17 h ago, last 7 h ago, peak #2
Wildfires are permanently turning Western US forests into shrubland
Original: # Wildfires Are Turning Forests in the American West Into # Shrubland Woodlands in the West are being permanently replac
Scientists report that repeated wildfires in the American West are permanently converting conifer forests into shrub and grassland, as burned areas fail to regenerate into trees. Researchers say the hot, dry conditions driving the shift are no longer normal, and the transformation is unfolding across broad stretches of the region, reshaping ecosystems long regarded as stable forest landscapes.
Why now: Ongoing wildfires and climate change are making the visible, long-term loss of Western forests a timely environmental concern.
American Westforestswildfiresclimate change
Rank over time, top of the chart is #1. 8 snapshots from 17 h ago to 7 h ago.
Evidence
- # Wildfires Are Turning Forests in the American West Into # Shrubland Woodlands in the West are being permanently replaced by tracts of spiky shrubs. Conditions “just aren’t normal anymore,” one researcher said. It’s part of a wider transformation that’s taking place across the… · BenjaminHCCarr@hachyderm.io · 6
API: https://socialmediatrends-api.osmike.com/v1/trends/1800312