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Projected Change in Fire Weather Index in Australia (1950-2100)

Animated map showing change in the fire weather index for Australia since 1950 and projected out to 2100.
Credits: NASA/Taejin Park

This map shows change in a measure called “fire weather index” (FWI) since 1950 and projected out to 2100 with respect to the baseline period of 1950-1979 (red: greater extreme fire weather; blue: less.) FWI captures a combination of conditions, including low rainfall and high winds, that together increase a region’s extreme fire weather condition. Analysis by the NASA Earth Exchange of high-resolution climate projections concludes that, if global temperatures keep rising and reach 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, people worldwide could face multiple impacts of climate change simultaneously, with serious consequences.

Read more about this research here: NASA Study Reveals Compounding Climate Risks at Two Degrees of Warming.