Twenty years of data from around the world show that areas that are not too dry and not too wet are most conducive to wildfire burning.

Sarah Derouin
Sarah Derouin is a freelance science journalist and editor who has been writing for Eos since 2017. She has a doctorate in geology from the University of Cincinnati and is a graduate of the Science Communication Program at University of California, Santa Cruz. Sarah has written for New Scientist, Scientific American, Popular Mechanics, Science, EARTH Magazine, and Mongabay. She was the 2018–19 Science Communication Fellow for the Geological Society of America and attended Congressional Climate Science Days. Beyond writing, Sarah was an acting associate editor for EARTH Magazine. She also worked behind the scenes as an assistant producer on Big Picture Science radio show, broadcast on more than 140 public radio stations. You can find more of her work at www.sarahderouin.com or connect with her on Twitter @Sarah_Derouin.
Deforestation Is Reducing Rainfall in the Amazon
Researchers found that between 2002 and 2015, a 3.2% reduction in Brazilian forest cover led to a 5.4% reduction in precipitation levels.
Heat and Pollution Events Are Deadly, Especially in the Global South
Researchers found that the combination of heat waves and high PM2.5 pollution led to nearly 700,000 premature deaths in the past 30 years—most of which occurred in the Global South.
Flood Prediction Could Boost Road Resilience off Georgia’s Coast
Researchers and community members worked together to develop recommendations for how Little Cumberland Island can mitigate flooding hazards.
Seeping Groundwater Can Be a Hidden Source of Greenhouse Gases
A new study in the Farmington River watershed shows that groundwater seeps can release 20% of dissolved emissions into the atmosphere before the water joins streams.
What Is Causing the Missouri River Basin’s Elevated Streamflow?
Regional climate variability plays a big role, but reduced forest cover and a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide are also factors.
The Interplay of ENSO and Immunity in Infectious Disease Outbreaks
El Niño and La Niña events can affect the spread of infectious diseases including cholera and dengue fever. The effects of some diseases may persist over several years.
A Warming Climate Is Shifting Eurasian Drought Conditions
Researchers use tree ring records to help reconstruct hydroclimate patterns and isolate drivers of drought.
Thawing Permafrost Helped Trigger Ancient Icelandic Landslides
New research shows that warming beginning about 13,000 years ago contributed to a proliferation of landslides in Iceland.