Eli5: why do wildfires get worse when temps are higher? Does a 10-20 degree difference (f) really matter? Does it just dry out the surrounding brush faster?
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It’s essentially like heat setting fire to a sheet of paper. While it doesn’t need to be super dry, generally higher ambient heat reduces the amount of energy a wildfire would need to ignite more combustible (the brush, in this case). It is just that simple.
A great way to demonstrate a similar phenomenon: Fill two pots with a similar amount of water, but one must be as cold as your tap can make it, and the other as hot as your tap can make it. Put both of them on the stove, at a similar heat level. You’ll notice that the hot one boils first, because it takes less energy to boil what’s already warmer/hotter… Likewise, it takes less energy to set fire to what’s already hotter.
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