During June 25 - July 2, 2021, the western part of North America was gripped by an extreme heatwave, referred to as a heat dome. This event had many detrimental impacts on the animals and plants in the area, including a 400% increase in wildfires. While many species suffered greatly, some species did just fine. These different outcomes highlight the complexity of the ecological impact of extreme heat and underscore a call for a coordinated monitoring network.

This research is detailed in a paper led by Julia, with contributors from the heat dome working group that was held following the event. Read the paper here (PDF available for download on the publications page).