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Fig. 8 | Fire Ecology

Fig. 8

From: Twenty-first century California, USA, wildfires: fuel-dominated vs. wind-dominated fires

Fig. 8

Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) values from (a) the last 121 yr and (b) since 2000 for the southern coast region of California. This region includes the cis-montane areas from about Pismo Beach to San Diego and is dominated by chaparral. For comparison, data are also shown from northern California, represented by the Sacramento Drainage Basin. PDSI values are based on precipitation inputs and temperature to measure drought conditions and this index is correlated with soil moisture. Negative PDSI values indicate drought, positive values indicate wet years and zero is the average. (a) In recent years, dry season (July) PDSI has reached a series of new record lows. (b) In the most recent extreme drought period, there was also intense drought during the normally moist winter (January 2014). From 2016 to the present, southern California has remained in drought, while northern California has had wet periods (b). Data are from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information. Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) in January for years 2000 to 2018 for northern and southern California, USA. (Reprinted with permission from Jacobsen and Pratt 2018.)

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