Western US Droughts and Wildfires

Drought is an extended period of lower-than-normal precipitation. Scientists have linked increased drought in the American West to climate change and global warming driven by human emissions of greenhouse gases. Climate change has resulted in shifts in weather patterns including higher temperatures, longer and hotter heat waves, and changing precipitation patterns. Drought can have many impacts depending on its severity. The US National Weather Service defines five levels of drought. The first is abnormally dry, which is usually short-term but can cause some negative impacts on crops and raise fire risks. Moderate drought may damage some crops, create water shortages, reduce the capacity of hydroelectric energy systems, and increase fire risk. Severe drought means crops are likely to be disrupted,...