Wyoming

Devastating wildfires have become increasingly routine in the American West. Berkeley Lab is home to interdisciplinary research where scientists are developing insights and technology to better predict wildfires, improve how well we respond to them, and evaluate impacts to ecosystems and human communities. This work leverages high-performance computing, artificial intelligence (AI), remote-sensing datasets, and advanced laboratory analytical facilities to predict and manage wildfire effects on vegetation, water and air quality, soils, and watershed dynamics. 

Consumer-priced air monitors have become popular in recent years for checking the level of wildfire smoke exposure. Berkeley Lab scientists compared four such monitors against a research-grade instrument as a reference, and found that these accessible monitors can provide actionable information to help Americans understand how to protect themselves and their families from wildfire smoke.