Wildfires can burn so hot that they give rise to water-repellent soil, which could make ecosystems more susceptible to flooding.By Kiley PriceSouthern New Mexico was already parched by drought when the South Fork fire ignited on June 17, 2024. The blaze burned roughly 17,000 acres near the town of Ruidoso in the Lincoln National Forest and the Mescalero Apache reservation, killing two people and destroying 1,400 structures.
Observations from the Little Bunker
Last updated: August 18, 2025 04:13 PM
Atmospheric CO₂
425.4 ppm
+18.4
ppm/year
Atmospheric CH₄
1934.91 ppb
+9.11
ppb/year
Global Temperature
+1.48 °C
Peak: +1.73°C
World Population
8.1 billion
+67
million/year