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Walter Oechel

Fire in Southern California chaparral communities is a historically common occurrence [1]. Hot, dry summers interact with strong “Santa Ana” winds and large human interfaces to create extreme risks of devastating wildfires [6], [11]. These plant communities also feedback into wildfire probabilities, producing drought-resistance mechanisms – such as volatile oils and woody stems - that can increase the spread and intensity of wildfire [1], [13]. Understanding the main drivers of wildfire is a priority in the wake of recent drought conditions, which are likely to worsen. California experienced its most extreme drought of the last millennia during the 2012-2016 period [5]. These extreme conditions interact with an...
Categories: Publication; Types: Citation
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