Sounding the warning sirens about the potential repercussions of global warming, Harvard scientists announced their belief that the changing climate will result in a 50% increase in the amount of land burned by wildfires by 2050.  Should the predictions come true, the increased smoke from an increase in fires could have the effect of further accelerating warming.

Atmospheric scientists from Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have generated models that show much of the western half of the United States being at much greater risk from wildfires.  The study, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, is said to be the first to measure the impact of future wildfires on air quality.

SEAS Senior Research Fellow Jennifer Logan said, “Warmer temperatures can dry out underbrush, leading to a more serious conflagration once a fire is started by lightning or human activity.  Because smoke and other particles from fires adversely affect air quality, an increase in wildfires could have large impacts on human health.”

For all the details on this study and what it means to Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region, check out the full story on Examiner.com.