In Alaska, wildfires can help prevent future burns. New research highlights a negative feedback loop in which the young, fast-growing vegetation that emerges after a fire makes the landscape less prone to burning again in the near term.
The suppressive effect is substantial. According to the study, if not for the regrowth of younger vegetation, fire activity across Alaska would be five times higher than it currently is. This natural brake helps keep the region's fire regime in check.
Whether the loop will hold is an open question. As climate change alters temperature, precipitation, and plant communities, the regrowth that currently suppresses fires could become less effective or even disappear, potentially leading to more frequent and severe burns in the future.