Mojave Desert Essay

The Mojave Desert, a region renowned for its scorching temperatures, and arid, barren landscape has increasingly become a significant area of research due to the disastrous drought conditions wreaking havoc on the west coast of the US specifically California. With rising global temperatures increasing both the drought and fire conditions researching areas that are prone to these conditions has become extremely important to understand possible outcomes of the current ongoing drought. One way to understand these conditions is to study both the paleo(past) and current fire data. The research shows increasing fires throughout the mojave about the last 50 years. But the question then becomes whether this data found is specifically climate related

Running states “Warmer temperatures appear to be increasing the duration and intensity of the wildfire season in the western United States” (Running 927). The reason how rise in temperature would lead to wildfires is due to high temperatures creating less snowpack in the Mountain ranges. Less snowpack in the mountain leads to less runoff and more drought and dry conditions for the lower elevations.Running goes to to estimate that “snowpacks are melting 1 to 4 weeks earlier than it did 50 years ago” (Running 927) For Mojave Desert specifically it is the Sierra Nevada Mountain range that is receiving less snowpack and contributing to the perpetual drought conditions of this area. And with drought, high temperatures, low water and comes dry, flammable vegetation creating the perfect combination for

From Native Americans cooking their food over fire to present day improper disposal of cigarettes these all have the potential to start a wildfire. Especially if they are done in area that contains dry brush and vegetation due to its drought ridden state like the Mojave. Human interaction and development within the Mojave most likely is a definite player in the role of increased