Publication: Associated Press

UCLA Expert: Park Williams: Associate Professor and Climate Hydrologist, Department of Geography

Synopsis: As smoky as the summer has been so far, scientists say it will likely be worse in future years because of climate change. 

UCLA News:  “A year like this could happen with or without climate change, but warming temperatures just made it a lot more probable,” Williams said. “We’re seeing, especially across the West, big increases in smoke exposure and reduction in air quality that are attributable to increase in fire activity. We thought we had it under control, but we don't. The climate changed so much that we lost control of it.”

Read more at Associated Press.