Wildfires could be harming our oceans and disrupting their carbon storage

"As wildfire frequency and intensity continue to rise in B.C., we need to better understand the cascading effects of fire across systems, and to integrate this knowledge into land, water, and climate resilience planning."
 

That is according to Dr. Brian Hunt, professor in the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries (IOF), who recently worked with IOF research scientist Emily Brown on a study that analyzed water quality and wildfire data in the provicne. The study found a link between fires which had burned within the river’s basin months prior and increases in the concentrations of compounds like arsenic and lead, and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus.

They discuss how wildfires affect our waters and what this means in a changing climate.

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