The teams research waspublishedlast month inForest Ecosystems.
Yellowstone National Park is overtwo million acresof spellbinding natural wonder.
According to the parks website, approximately 80% of Yellowstone is covered in forest.
A stand of dead trees in Yellowstone National Park.Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Wildfiresare a natural part of Yellowstones ecosystem; some species have specifically adapted to rebound after fires.
When natural wildfires occur, but hazardous conditions suggest widespread damage could result, the burns are suppressed.
In 1988, several fires covered more than one million acres of the park.
Maps showing the ratio of dead trees in the Yellowstone area. Graphic: Di Yang et al.
They also used satellite imagery to assess forest canopy height, vegetation cover, and tree health.
Combine strong winds with a wildland-urban interface, and you have a a disaster on your hands.
Add gusty winds to the mix and even natural forest fires can grow out of control.
Forest management is critical to ensure that natural wildfires do their natural thing without causing widespread, out-of-control damage.
But forest management cant control climatological factors likeprolonged droughts.
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