PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A recent study by Oregon State University and the U.S. Forest Service has unveiled the significant impact of the 2021 “heat dome” on forests in western Oregon and Washington.
Satellite imagery analysis revealed that nearly 5% of the forested area, amounting to over 1,000 square miles, suffered damage, with foliage turning from green to red or orange within hours.
The extreme heat event, which saw record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest, affected tree species such as western redcedar, western hemlock, and Sitka spruce, particularly in old-growth forests…