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Bendix Quoted in Associated Press Article on Deaths From Wildfire Smoke

Wildfires driven by climate change contribute to as many as thousands of annual deaths and billions of dollars in economic costs from wildfire smoke in the United States, according to a new study. Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and environment, says he is “dismayed” by the findings but not surprised.

May 13, 2025

Wilson and Bendix Weigh In on Impact of Trump’s Policies on Future Wildfires in Newsweek Article

“We well know Trump does not accept the science of climate change and the reality of climate change. He's very dismissive of it,” says Robert Wilson, associate professor of geography and the environment. “Certainly, I've seen no news account over the past week where he's acknowledged that climate change has played a role in making the wildfires in California worse.”

January 15, 2025

Bendix Speaks With PEOPLE and Washington Post About the Wildfires in Los Angeles, Climate Change

“Both drought and heat are known to be more likely in the context of human-caused climate change, so the fires burning now cannot be dismissed as anomalous events,” says Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and the environment.

January 10, 2025

Bendix Speaks to the Associated Press About a Study on the Impact of the 2023 Canadian Wildfires

“There is a quite substantial lag between addition of atmospheric carbon due to wildfire and the eventual removal of at least some of it by the regrowing forest. So, over the course of those decades, the net impact of the fires is a contribution to climate warming,” says Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and the environment. 

July 2, 2024

Bendix Quoted in Associated Press Article on the Corral Fire in California

Though this fire is nearly contained, in general, fire burns hotter when the weather is hotter, says Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and the environment. He adds that drought contributes to dangerous fire seasons, but paradoxically, wetter years can too.

June 13, 2024

See related: United States, Wildfires

Bendix Speaks to the Washington Post About the Maui Wildfires

Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and the environment, says the grasses provided “fine fuels that ignite easily” due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio, dense growth patterns and height.

September 12, 2023

Research by Gallo-Cruz Cited in Salon Article on the Human Costs of Global Warming

Citing the work of organizations like Global Witness in conflict zones worldwide, Selina Gallo-Cruz, associate professor of sociology, points out that a significant part of the violence on this planet comes from the North's "extraction of natural resources through mining or deforestation—palm oil plantations are a big one—and mega-, mega-agricultural projects," all of which lead to "outbreaks of very violent conflict."

July 18, 2023

Coffel Cited in NY Times Article on the Link Between Traveling Wildfire Smoke and Climate Change

When there is less precipitation than normal, warmer temperatures cause vegetation to dry out more quickly, says Ethan Coffel, assistant professor of geography and the environment.

June 15, 2023

Bendix Comments on Canadian Wildfires, Climate Change in CNY Central Article

What is clear is that the Canadian wildfires are a product of man-produced climate change and climate disasters are going to become more commonplace, says Jacob Bendix, professor emeritus of geography and the environment.

June 14, 2023

Wilson Discusses Why Wildfire Smoke is No Longer Solely a West Coast Problem in The Hill

"Before this week, it was easy for those of us in the East to think that suffocating wildfire smoke was solely a West Coast problem. But no longer. The smoke clouding our skies, scratching our throats and watering our eyes shows we’re all Westerners now," writes Robert Wilson, associate professor of geography and the environment.

June 12, 2023

Bendix Speaks with the Weather Channel About Climate Change, Drought and Fireworks

Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment, was quoted in the Weather Channel article, "Why Fireworks, Drought and Climate Change Are A Dangerous Combination."

June 29, 2022

Amit Sanyal awarded grant to study the integration of autonomous systems in wildland fire management

This National Science Foundation funded project will focus on autonomous unmanned aerial systems to perform wildfire monitoring in hazardous environments.

October 19, 2021

AP Article: Popp Weighs in on Biden's Proposed Civilian Climate Corps

David Popp, professor of public administration and international affairs, was quoted in the Associated Press article, "Biden, Dems push Civilian Climate Corps in echo of New Deal."
September 9, 2021

Bendix interviewed by NBCLX on climate change, wildfires

Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment, was interviewed on NBCLX's LX News about the impact of climate change on wildfires.
July 15, 2021

Bendix quoted in LA Times article CA wildfires, climate change

Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment, is included in the Los Angeles Times article, "California hit by record-breaking fire destruction: 'Climate change is real, it’s bad'." 
July 13, 2021

Bendix talks to LA Times about CA wildfires, fireworks threat

Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment, specializes in the study of wildfire distribution.
July 8, 2021

Bendix explores solutions to the western wildfire crisis in The Hill

"Recognition of the multiple contributors to the wildfire crisis should enable us to move past the focus on simple solutions — one size does not fit all, and reducing fire impacts will require a mix of approaches that match the geographic and ecological complexity of fire regimes," writes Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment.

October 8, 2020

Bendix speaks to Associated Press, Bloomberg about the California wildfires

"Climate change makes everything worse," says Jacob Bendix, professor of geography and the environment. "Efforts to manage fire risks "will be of limited use as long as the climate is getting warmer and in many cases getting drier."

September 10, 2020

Public Affairs and the Multifront Attack on Climate Change

In its breadth and interdisciplinary richness, the Maxwell School proves to be a fertile setting for research on one of today’s most complex and pressing issues. Researchers are working all the angles — policy, economics, societal adaptation, governance, citizenship, and more — in their contributions to saving this planet.
June 25, 2019

Bendix discusses the factors behind the CA wildfires in USA Today

"Over the past two months, the areas now burning have had far less precipitation than normal for this time of year, while experiencing above-average temperatures," says Jacob Bendix, associate professor of geography. "Thus, conditions were primed for fire."
November 14, 2018

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